by Amichai Stein
US Senator Lindsey Graham referenced the matter in a post to X/Twitter on Monday night.
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The Trump administration has canceled Lebanese Armed Forces Commander Rodolphe Haykal’s upcoming visit to the United States, with South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham slamming the Lebanese officer for his failure to adequately address Hezbollah.
The visit’s cancellation is reportedly due to the Lebanese army’s statement regarding the IDF’s accidental firing upon two UN Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers, where it addressed only Israel’s conduct while refusing to address Hezbollah’s role in the region’s instability.
The Lebanese army accused Israel on Sunday of violating “Lebanese sovereignty, causing instability in Lebanon and hindering the full deployment of the army in the South.”
“The army command affirms that it is working in coordination with friendly countries to put an end to the continuous violations and breaches committed by the Israeli enemy, which require immediate action as they represent a serious escalation.”
يصرّ العدو الإسرائيلي على انتهاكاته للسيادة اللبنانية، مسببًا زعزعة الاستقرار في لبنان، ومعرقلًا استكمال انتشار الجيش في الجنوب، وآخر هذه الاعتداءات المدانة استهدافه دورية لقوة الأمم المتحدة المؤقتة في لبنان - اليونيفيل بتاريخ ١٦ /١١ /٢٠٢٥.
— الجيش اللبناني (@LebarmyOfficial) November 16, 2025
تؤكد قيادة الجيش أنها تعمل بالتنسيق مع… pic.twitter.com/daaUqecKHu
US senators condemn Lebanese military statement
“It is clear that the Lebanese chief head of defense [CHOD] – because of a reference to Israel as the enemy and his weak, almost non-existent effort to disarm Hezbollah – is a giant setback for efforts to move Lebanon forward,” Graham posted to X/Twitter on Monday night. “This combination makes the Lebanese Armed Forces not a very good investment for America.”Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also slammed the Lebanese army’s statement in her own X post on Monday, calling the statement “disappointing.”
It is clear that the Lebanese Chief Head of Defense -- because of a reference to Israel as the enemy and his weak almost non-existent effort to disarm Hezbollah -- is a giant setback for efforts to move Lebanon forward.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) November 17, 2025
This combination makes the Lebanese Armed Forces not a very… https://t.co/qLl8alCiCj
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst also slammed the Lebanese army's statement in her own X post on Monday, calling the statement "disappointing."
Disappointed by this statement from @LebArmyOfficial.
— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) November 17, 2025
The LAF are a strategic partner, and — as I discussed with the CHOD in August — Israel has given Lebanon a real opportunity to free itself from Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists.
Instead of seizing that opportunity and… https://t.co/vJHAtMeRAs
“The LAF is a strategic partner, and – as I discussed with the CHOD in August – Israel has given Lebanon a real opportunity to free itself from Iran-backed Hezbollah terrorists,” the Republican senator wrote. “Instead of seizing that opportunity and working together to disarm Hezbollah, the CHOD is shamefully directing blame at Israel.”
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.
Amichai Stein
Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-874259
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