Visit of the Army Commander-in-Chief to the Italian Republic

The Army Commander-in-Chief, General Rodolph Haykal, accompanied by a military delegation, visited the Italian Republic from 24 to 26 August 2026 on an official visit at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, General Luciano Portolano.

General Haykal began his visit by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II. He then visited the headquarters of the Italian Armed Forces at the Ministry of Defence, where he was received by his Italian counterpart and accorded official military honors. The two sides then held a meeting in the presence of members of the Lebanese and Italian military delegations, and discussed the latest developments and ways to strengthen cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.

During the meeting, General Portolano stressed that Lebanon’s stability is a strategic priority, praising the friendship between the two countries and highlighting the importance of supporting the Lebanese Army given its essential role in maintaining security and stability.

The two sides also discussed the key role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in which the Italian contingent participates, as well as the Italian Bilateral Military Mission in Lebanon (MIBIL) and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon (MTC4L). Italy’s vision and role in the post-UNIFIL phase were also discussed.

General Haykal thanked General Portolano, expressing his appreciation for Italy’s support for the Amy.

He also received a phone call from Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, who was abroad. Tajani reaffirmed Italy’s support for the Lebanese Army’s efforts. The Commander-in-Chief also met with Riccardo Guariglia, Director General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni, Director General for Political and Security Affairs at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the Ministry’s headquarters.

General Haykal also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, who stressed the need to achieve peace in Lebanon and considered the Army to be playing a major role in safeguarding the country’s security.

General Haykal concluded his visit at one of Italy’s military-industrial facilities, where he was briefed on its operations and modern technologies.

As part of the visit, Lebanon’s Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazzar, hosted a dinner in honor of General Haykal at the Lebanese Embassy, attended by a number of Italian and Lebanese figures.