Lindsey Graham Walks Out on Lebanese General After He Refuses to Call Hezbollah a Terrorist Organization
Senator Lindsey Graham abruptly ended a meeting with Lebanese Army Chief General Rodolphe Haykal after the General refused to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Read about the heated exchange, the 1983 Beirut legacy, and the future of U.S.-Lebanon military relations.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) abruptly ended a meeting with Lebanese Army Chief of Staff General Rodolphe Haykal yesterday, after Haykal refused to label Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
According to Graham's statement posted on X, he directly asked Haykal if he believed Hezbollah was a terrorist group, to which Haykal responded, "No, not in the context of Lebanon."
Graham then terminated the discussion, stating: "They are clearly a terrorist organization. Hezbollah has American blood on its hands. Just ask the U.S. Marines. They have been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by both Republican and Democrat administrations since 1997—for good reason. As long as this attitude exists from the Lebanese Armed Forces, I don’t think we have a reliable partner in them."
The encounter occurred during Haykal's visit to the U.S., where he held discussions with other military officials, including a top officer from U.S. Central Command, despite some planned meetings in Washington being canceled amid concerns over Lebanon's enforcement of Hezbollah disarmament.
Graham's reaction highlights ongoing U.S. frustrations with Hezbollah's role in Lebanon, including its designation as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department since 1997, and references to historical attacks like the 1983 Beirut Marine barracks bombing that killed 241 American service members.
Lebanese sources and pro-Hezbollah outlets framed the incident as U.S. interference, praising Haykal's stance.