This evening, President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, received a phone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the current situation in Lebanon and the region was discussed in light of recent developments. During the call, Minister Rubio stressed that the United States of America stands by Lebanon and works to achieve security and stability in it, extend state authority over all its lands, and support its legitimate, security and military institutions, most notably the army. President Aoun thanked the American minister for his country’s support for Lebanon, stressing the need to stop the Israeli attacks on Lebanese territory by achieving a comprehensive ceasefire, which Lebanon considers a basic pillar for the progress of the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations scheduled in Washington next week to reach the fixed goals from which these negotiations began to restore Lebanon’s security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.