Rodolphe Haykal

General Rodolphe Haykal is the Chief of Defense of the Lebanese Army. He is currently newsworthy due to ongoing tensions surrounding Hezbollah's presence and influence in Lebanon. Recently, Senator Lindsey Graham abruptly ended a meeting with Haykal after the general reportedly refused to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. This incident highlights the complex political landscape in Lebanon and the challenges the Lebanese Army faces in navigating the influence of non-state actors. Furthermore, the Lebanese Army has announced the completion of the first phase of a plan to disarm non-state groups in southern Lebanon, although the statement notably avoids mentioning Hezbollah by name. Haykal is expected to brief the government on the progress of this disarmament mission, which is occurring amidst heightened tensions and scrutiny regarding Hezbollah's continued armed presence and control in parts of the country.