US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William Burns held brief talks on Saturday with Lebanese army commander Joseph Aoun and several leaders of security forces, said widely informed sources.
Burns made a layover in Beirut as he was traveling from Tel Aviv to Cairo.
The sources said Burns delivered a message of support from the United States to the heads of security and military agencies over their role in preserving security and stability in Lebanon as it endures crippling economic and living crises.
The sources said Burns was briefed by the security officials on the dire situation in the country given the ongoing failure of the ruling class to form a new government nearly a year since it resigned in wake of the August 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion.
Burns listened to their briefings without delving into details as his mission was limited to underscoring American support to the security forces given the major responsibilities they are shouldering in maintaining calm and containing the crises.
Lebanon is grappling with an economic crisis branded by the World Bank as one of the planet’s worst in modern times, and has been hit by severe fuel shortages since the start of summer.
These have aggravated power cuts which now last more than 22 hours a day, threatening hospitals and businesses with closure.
