Army Commander Visits Britain and Participates in Dragon Group Meeting

Army Commander General Rodolphe Heykal visited Britain on October 22 and 23, 2026, at the official invitation of his British counterpart, Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton. He participated in the tenth annual meeting of the Dragon Group, which included commanders and representatives from the armies of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a representative from the Gulf Cooperation Council. The discussions focused on common challenges and ways to deepen cooperation to support regional security and stability, alongside a range of global and regional issues.

General Heykal also met with his British counterpart, where they discussed ways to support the army and enhance bilateral cooperation, thanking the British authorities for their continued support of the military institution.

This was followed by a meeting between Heykal and British National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell, during which both parties exchanged views on the latest developments in southern Lebanon and post-UNIFIL options.

He also met separately with the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, Major General (Pilot) Jasim bin Mohammed Al-Munaai, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Major General Majdi Mohammed Al-Harasais. They reviewed cooperative relations between the Lebanese Army and the Jordanian and Qatari armies in light of regional developments.