US stands with Lebanon, backs its ‘security and stability,’ Marco Rubio tells Lebanese president

The US reaffirmed its support for Lebanon during a Friday phone call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Anadolu Agency reports.

The two discussed the current situation in Lebanon and the wider region in light of recent developments, the presidency said in a statement.

During the call, Rubio stressed that the US “stands with Lebanon” and said Washington would work to achieve “security and stability” in the country, ensure “the extension of state authority over all its territory,” and support Lebanon’s legitimate political, security and military institutions, “foremost among them the army.”

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He said such a comprehensive ceasefire is “what Lebanon considers a cornerstone” for progress in Lebanese-US-Israeli negotiations scheduled to take place in Washington next week.

According to the presidency, Aoun said the talks aim to achieve Lebanon’s “constant objectives” of restoring the country’s “security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

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