Beirut: Sheikh Akl of the Druze community, Sheikh Sami Abil-Mona, on Thursday welcomed a delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon at the Dar al-Ta'ifa in Beirut. The delegation included Political and Economic Counselor Jaime Omilla, Foreign Assistance Coordinator Ethan Lynch, and Religious Affairs Officer Veronica Shio. Members of the sectarian council and advisors to the Sheikh Akl also attended.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, discussions focused on the dire humanitarian crisis in the city of Suwayda, ravaged by violence since mid-July. The Sheikh condemned the killings, kidnappings, displacement, and destruction that have devastated the local population, stripping them of security, food, and basic needs.
Welcoming the delegation, Sheikh Abil-Mona stressed that the 'catastrophic humanitarian situation in Jabal al-Arab' calls for urgent international, Arab, and Islamic intervention. He appealed to peace-brokering nations and global humanitarian organizations to secure safe corridors, ease the blockade, and deliver emergency food aid. 'What happened in Suwayda is a stain on the conscience of humanity,' he said, holding both the Syrian state and influential global actors accountable. He called on the international community to prevent further atrocities, support victims, and launch serious humanitarian initiatives to heal the wounded and alleviate suffering.
Separately, Sheikh Abil-Mona received various guests in Beirut and at his residence in Choueir, including diaspora figures and local dignitaries.