London:Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal visited the United Kingdom on October 22-23, 2026, at the official invitation of his British counterpart, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton. The visit involved participation in significant military meetings and discussions with various international military leaders.
According to National news agency - Lebanon, during his visit, General Haykal attended the 10th annual meeting of the "Dragon Group," which included commanders and representatives from the armed forces of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. A representative from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was also present. The discussions at this meeting focused on shared challenges and strategies to strengthen regional security and stability, alongside addressing various global and regional issues.
General Haykal also engaged in talks with Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, focusing on ways to support the Lebanese army and enhance bilateral cooperation. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the British authorities for their continued support of the Lebanese military institution.
Furthermore, General Haykal met with British National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell to discuss the latest developments in southern Lebanon and explore options following the UNIFIL mandate. During his visit, he also held meetings with Lieutenant General (Pilot) Salem bin Mohammed Al-Mannai, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, and Major General Majdi Muhammad Al-Harasis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces. These discussions centered on cooperative relations between the Lebanese Armed Forces and the militaries of Jordan and Qatar, considering the current regional developments.
