BEIRIUT: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will make a short visit to Lebanon for talks with government officials as well as religious and military leaders, local media reported Thursday.
Reports stated Blinken, who is scheduled to arrive Sunday on a two-day visit, will meet Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh, Lebanese Army commander Gen. Jean Kahwagi, Maronite Patriarch Boutros Rai and Mufti Abdel-Latif Derian.
An-Nahar newspaper said the talks will focus on developments in the region in the wake of the Saudi-led airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Blinken will brief Lebanese officials on the U.S. position on the region, particularly on Syria, according to daily Al-Joumhouria.