Army Commander General Rudolf Heikal officially visited Italy between August 24 and 26, 2026, accompanied by a military delegation, at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, General Luciano Portolano.

Heikal began his visit by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National Monument to Victor Emmanuel II, then headed to the Italian Armed Forces Command at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense, where he was received by his Italian counterpart and official ceremonies were held for him.

The two sides held a meeting in the presence of the Lebanese and Italian military delegations, during which they discussed the latest developments and ways to enhance cooperation between the two armies.

Portolano stressed that the stability of Lebanon is a strategic priority, praising the friendship between the two countries and the importance of supporting the Lebanese army in its essential role in maintaining security and stability.

The discussion dealt with the basic role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), in which the Italian contingent, the Italian bilateral military mission in Lebanon, and the Military Technical Committee for Lebanon participate. The two sides also discussed Italy’s vision and role in the post-UNIFIL phase.

Heikal thanked his Italian counterpart, praising his country’s support for the Lebanese Army.

He received a phone call from Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Taiani, who is outside Italy, during which he affirmed Italy’s support for the army’s efforts. He also met at the Foreign Ministry’s headquarters with its Director General, Ricardo Guarilia, and the Director General for Political Affairs and International Security, Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni.

He also met with the Secretary of State of the Vatican City, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who stressed the necessity of establishing peace in Lebanon, stressing the major role of the army in maintaining the country’s security.

Heikal concluded his visit at one of the centers of Italian military industries, where he was briefed on its work mechanism and modern technologies.

During the visit, the Lebanese Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazzar, held a dinner party in his honor at the Lebanese Embassy, ​​in the presence of Italian and Lebanese dignitaries.