Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal visited the Italian Republic, accompanied by a military delegation, from 24/8/2026 to 26/8/2026 on an official visit at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, General Luciano Portolano. General Haykal began his visit by laying a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Victor Emmanuel II National Monument, then visited the Italian Armed Forces command at the Ministry of Defense headquarters, where he was received by his Italian counterpart, and official honors were performed. Following this, a meeting was held between the two sides in the presence of the members of the Lebanese and Italian military delegations, discussing the latest developments and ways to enhance cooperation between the two countries' armies. During the meeting, General Portolano affirmed that Lebanon's stability is a strategic priority, praising the friendly relations between the two countries and pointing out the importance of supporting the Lebanese Army given its essential role in maintaining security and stability. Likewise, the two parties touched upon the essential role of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon - UNIFIL, in which the Italian contingent participates, the Italian bilateral military mission in Lebanon MIBIL, and the MTC4L Military Technical Committee for Lebanon. Italy's vision and role in the post-UNIFIL phase were also discussed. General Haykal thanked General Portolano, appreciating Italian support for the army. He also received a phone call from the Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, who is currently abroad, and who affirmed Italy's support for the army's efforts. The Army Commander also met with the Director-General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Riccardo Guariglia, and the Director-General for Political Affairs and International Security at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Cecilia Piccioni, at the ministry's headquarters. He also met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who stressed the necessity of establishing peace in Lebanon, considering that the army plays a major role in safeguarding the country's security. General Haykal concluded his visit at an Italian military industries center, where he was briefed on its working mechanism and modern technologies. In the context of the visit, the Lebanese Ambassador to Italy, Carla Jazzar, hosted a dinner banquet in honor of General Haykal at the Lebanese Embassy, in the presence of Italian and Lebanese figures.