BEIRUT: The Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Michael Kurilla, engaged in discussions in Beirut on Wednesday with Gen. Joseph Aoun, the Commander of the Lebanon Armed Forces, to facilitate a permanent cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israeli forces.

According to Kuwait News Agency, CENTCOM released a statement indicating that a long-term ceasefire might be achieved through the implementation and monitoring of a mechanism established in an agreement between Israel and Lebanon last month. Gen. Kurilla was present at the implementation and monitoring headquarters during the initial withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces and the subsequent deployment of Lebanese Armed Forces in Al Khiam, Lebanon, as part of the agreement.

Gen. Kurilla described this development as a crucial initial step towards a lasting cessation of hostilities, emphasizing that it lays the groundwork for further progress. The discussions between Gen. Kurilla and Gen. Aoun also focused on the security situation
in Syria, its implications for regional stability, and strategies to enhance military cooperation between the Lebanese Armed Forces and CENTCOM.