, MP, UK Minister for the
Middle East, has ended a two-day visit to Lebanon (3-4 Nov). On
his first official visit to the country, he met with Lebanese
leaders, inaugurated a new base for the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) in south Lebanon constructed through UK funding, and saw
how UK aid funded programmes are helping those impacted by the
recent conflict. He was accompanied by British Ambassador Hamish
Cowell.
In South Lebanon, he saw how a new LAF operating base, built with
UK support, will enhance the LAF's operational resilience and
address critical infrastructure needs. This is essential for
supporting a permanent and sustainable LAF presence in the South.
The UK has also built over 80 LAF operating bases along the
Syrian border to strengthen Lebanon's sovereignty and
security.
Minister Falconer visited the Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) centre in
Tebnine where he welcomed the partnership between the British Red
Cross (BRC) and LRC to boost crisis preparedness and disaster
response. In Seddiqine, he visited a UNICEF Makani multi-service
community centre, which is supporting the most marginalised
children with essential education and child protection
services.
This is part of a broader package of UK aid to Lebanon this year
totalling £33.5 million. This support helps to provide
humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable communities to
meet their basic needs and access essential services such as
education and gender-based violence prevention. This is done in
collaboration with the Government of Lebanon, to help strengthen
their national social protection systems.
Minister Falconer met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister
Nawaf Salam, Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji and Lebanese Armed
Forces Commander General Rodolph Haykal, where he reaffirmed the
UK's commitment to support Lebanon's reform efforts and long-term
security and stability.
At the end of his visit, Minister Falconer said:
Across the region, the UK is supporting efforts towards a lasting
peace through tireless diplomacy, humanitarian support, and
security cooperation.
In Lebanon, I saw the devastating impact of conflict and how UK
support is strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces through new
Forward Operating Bases and training. Our humanitarian
programming is helping communities to meet their basic needs and
children return to learning.
British Ambassador Hamish Cowell said:
The UK is committed to working closely with Lebanon, to help
deliver meaningful change that benefits the country and its
people, and I was pleased to welcome Minister Falconer on his
first official visit to Lebanon.
In our meetings with Lebanon's leadership, we reaffirmed the UK's
steadfast support to Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, reform
efforts and the importance of parliamentary elections in 2026.
