2026-06-29T17:22:32+00:00
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Shafaq News- Washington
The United States has more than 50,000 personnel deployed across the
Middle East, US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported on Monday, noting that
forces remain “vigilant and ready” for any regional escalation.
During a visit to Beirut, Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM, met
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal, with
discussions focused on implementing the “historic” Lebanon-Israel framework
agreement recently signed in Washington.
Cooper also visited US forces stationed in Israel, where he reviewed
ongoing operations and commended service members for their performance and
operational contributions.
During an ongoing trip to the Middle East, Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, engaged senior civilian and military leaders in Israel and Lebanon. While in Lebanon, Cooper and his staff met with President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Armed Forces Commanding General Rodolphe Haykal.… pic.twitter.com/9KRSJyNJIR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 29, 2026
Last week, Lebanon and Israel inked a US-brokered framework agreement
providing for a phased Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in exchange for
the Lebanese army’s deployment and the disarmament of armed groups, though
Hezbollah and other political factions rejected the deal as a threat to
Lebanese sovereignty.
Israeli officials previously maintained that no withdrawal will take
place before Hezbollah disarms, while leaked details of a reported secret
security annex indicate Israeli forces would retain operational freedom in
southern Lebanon without a fixed withdrawal timetable. The Lebanese army is
expected to begin deploying to the first two pilot zones under US supervision
as implementation of the agreement gets underway.
Read more: South Lebanon framework: What we know so far