Latest news with #RodolpheHaikal
National News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Army chief receives Canadian Ambassador, UNODC's Albertin
NNA - Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haikal, on Wednesday received at his Yarzeh office, the Canadian Ambassador to Lebanon Stefanie McCollum, accompanied by the Canadian Military Attaché in Lebanon, Lieutenant Colonel Jawad Al-Khairy. The discussion addressed ways of cooperation between the armies of both countries and the general situation in Lebanon and the region. Maj, Gen, Haikal also received the Regional Representative for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Cristina Albertin, with an accompanying delegation. The discussion reportedly touched on various matters.
National News
09-04-2025
- Politics
- National News
Army chief meets British Ambassador, receives MP Nadim Gemayel, Egyptian Military Attaché, Acting Director General of Customs
NNA - Lebanon's Army Commander, General Rodolphe Haikal, on Wednesday received at his Yarzeh office, British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, accompanied by Military Attaché Lieutenant Colonel Charles Smith. Discussions reportedly touched on the means of cooperation between the armies of the two countries. Gen. Haikal later received MP Nadim Gemayel, with whom he discussed the country's general situation. The army commander also received Egyptian military attaché in Lebanon, Brigadier General Amr Abdel Karim Eid Mohammed, over ways of cooperation between the Lebanese and Egyptian armies. Separately, General Haikal received Acting Director General of Customs, Raymond Khoury, with whom he discussed various matters.
Asharq Al-Awsat
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Army Arrests Suspects Linked to Rocket Attack against Israel
The Lebanese army arrested a number of suspects linked to the firing of rockets towards Israel. Israel on Friday launched the broadest attack against Lebanon since the November ceasefire in retaliation to the firing of rockets from Lebanese territories. Israel responded by striking Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh – a Hezbollah stronghold. The army said it arrested a number of people, including Lebanese and Palestinian nationals, on suspicion of launching the rockets. Nearly a week earlier, Israel attacked southern Lebanon following similar rocket launches from the South. Hezbollah has denied having any links to both rocket attacks, while the Lebanese government has vowed to arrest the suspects. A security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the army has kicked off an investigation with the detainees. The military has reached leads that will take it to the party behind the attack, another security source told Al Arabiya television. Army Commander Rodolphe Haikal inspected on Saturday troops deployed south of the Litani River, underscoring their 'role in serving the nation and its perseverance.' 'The military institution is tasked with protecting Lebanon and its people regardless of their affiliations,' he stressed. The launching of rockets from Lebanon towards Israel only serves the enemy, he declared, saying the military is carrying out the necessary investigations to uncover the culprits. Moreover, he stated that the only hurdle to the Lebanese army's permanent deployment in the South and consolidation of the ceasefire is the Israeli occupation of Lebanese territories and its repeated violations of the nation's sovereignty. In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to hold Lebanon responsible for the attacks. He stressed that Israel will be 'uncompromising' towards violations and that he has instructed the security minister and army to act accordingly. 'Lebanon is responsible for what is being launched from its territory, and it must ensure that no attacks are carried out against Israel,' he demanded.
Arab News
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Lebanese army begins securing border with Syria, closes illegal crossings
BEIRUT: The Lebanese army on Wednesday entered the town of Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali, on Lebanon's eastern border with the Syrian Arab Republic. Its vehicles reached the town's administrative border as established in official Lebanese state maps. According to these maps, the town is divided into two: one part in Syrian territory, inhabited by Lebanese citizens; and the other in Lebanese territory. The development follows communications between the Syrian and Lebanese sides to halt armed clashes that began last Sunday as a result of disputes among smugglers in an area teeming with illegal crossings. The conflict escalated on Monday after the killing of three Syrian gunmen, and evolved into a broader confrontation between Lebanese tribes and armed members of the new Syrian authorities. According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health, the clashes and killings resulted in 'the death of seven Lebanese citizens and the injury of 52 others.' Additionally, property and buildings suffered heavy damage in the exchange of shelling between Syrian forces and Lebanese tribes. Forces affiliated with the Syrian Ministry of Defense entered the Syrian part of the Lebanese town on Monday night. Negotiations between the Lebanese and Syrian sides over deployment zones, based on border maps between the two countries, delayed the Lebanese army's deployment for several hours, when a Lebanese army convoy of 60 vehicles arrived on the outskirts of Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali. An official source in the area said the Lebanese army's deployment 'was not smooth, as it faced protests related to the confiscation of weapons belonging to local clans. However, the situation soon returned to normal, allowing the army to continue its mission. The Lebanese army command announced that its units 'commenced implementing security measures in the Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali area of Hermel, including the deployment of patrols, to maintain security and ensure stability in the border region.' It said the army has taken measures 'to close illegal crossings between Lebanon and Syria,' adding: 'As part of the efforts to monitor and secure the borders in light of the current situation, and to prevent infiltration and smuggling activities, a unit of the army has closed the illegal crossings, which include Al-Matlaba in the Qasr-Hermel area, as well as Al-Fatha, Al-Maarawiya, and Shahit Al-Hujairi in the Mashari' Al-Qaa-Baalbek region.' President Joseph Aoun monitored the security developments along the northeastern border through a series of communications with army chief Gen. Rodolphe Haikal. According to the presidency, Haikal briefed the president on 'the measures being implemented by the army to restore calm and stability to the area.' Aoun underlined 'the importance of consolidating the ceasefire, halting aggression, and controlling the borders adjacent to the villages.' On Monday he said that the situation on the eastern and northeastern borders cannot persist and that 'the army will not allow the chaos to continue.' He then ordered the Lebanese army to respond to the sources of fire. Subsequently, communications between Lebanon and Syria intensified, including talks between the two countries' foreign ministers to find solutions to the escalation in border incidents. These efforts led to a ceasefire agreement between the intelligence services of the two countries after a call between Lebanese Defense Minister Michel Menassa and his Syrian counterpart, Murhaf Abu Qasra. Syrian media outlets on Tuesday night reported that 'Syrian forces seized a Hezbollah operations room in Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali, which contained large quantities of weapons, ammunition, drugs and equipment used to manufacture counterfeit tobacco.' After the army's deployment, displaced families from Hawsh Al-Sayyid Ali on Wednesday started preparing to return to their homes. Hezbollah has firmly denied any involvement in the border clashes with Syria.
Asharq Al-Awsat
14-03-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Lebanese Govt Completes Security Appointments Based on ‘Experience and Competence
The Lebanese government has finalized military and security appointments in a single move, selecting candidates based on 'experience and competence,' according to Minister of Information Paul Morcos. The new appointments include Brigadier General Rodolphe Haikal as Commander of the Army, following his promotion to the rank of 'General'; Brigadier General Hassan Choucair as Director General of General Security, after being promoted to 'Major General'; Brigadier General Raed Abdullah as Director General of the Internal Security Forces, also after his promotion to 'Major General'; and Brigadier General Edgar Lawand as Director General of State Security, following his elevation to 'Major General.' Additionally, Brigadier General Mourched Hajj Sleiman has been appointed Deputy Director General of State Security. Morcos emphasized that these military and security appointments were made based on experience and competence, adding: 'We, in the Council of Ministers, work with great precision, ensuring strict adherence to standards and qualifications.' President Joseph Aoun stated that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation 'stressed the urgent need to appoint a new Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon and highlighted the importance of passing banking secrecy legislation, which still requires further amendments, as well as restructuring the banking sector.' During the cabinet session, Aoun briefed the government on his meeting with a delegation from the IMF, revealing that 'a committee has been formed, chaired by the Minister of Finance and including the Minister of Economy, the acting Governor of the Central Bank, two advisors, and the Prime Minister's advisor, Lamia Moubayed, to follow up on the issues raised by the delegation.' The president added: 'The IMF underscored the importance of reaching an agreement with the Fund before the summer, given previous unsuccessful attempts, and stressed the need for cooperation among all relevant Lebanese authorities.' 'The key to restoring confidence in Lebanon—both domestically and internationally—is implementing economic, banking, and financial reforms,' he remarked. The IMF delegation also reiterated the necessity of appointing a new Central Bank Governor and establishing a centralized data center for all sections of the Ministry of Finance. Furthermore, they stressed the need to pass two key laws: one addressing banking secrecy, which still requires additional amendments despite recent changes, and another focused on restructuring the banking sector. Regarding recent developments in Syria, Aoun stated that security agencies, along with the Ministries of Interior and Defense, are closely monitoring the situation to ensure full readiness. He also announced that following the release of four Lebanese prisoners previously detained by Israel during the recent conflict, 'the fifth prisoner was released on Thursday as a result of indirect negotiations.' Army Commander Army Commander General Rodolphe Haikal enlisted as an officer cadet and joined the Military Academy in 1990. He steadily rose through the ranks and held various assignments before being appointed in 2023 as Commander of the South Litani Sector along the border with Israel. Since the summer of 2024, he has served as Director of Operations in the Army Staff for Operations.
