ATFL President Ed Gabriel quoted in L’Orient Today during ATFL’s December 2025 delegation to Lebanon.
❝ The American Task Force for Lebanon (ATFL) delegation, led by Ambassador Edward Gabriel, held separate meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea to discuss Washington’s view of Lebanon, U.S.–Lebanese relations, regional developments, and the latest negotiations and security measures in southern Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Friday.
Berri, a key political ally of Hezbollah, received Gabriel and the ATFL delegation in Ain al-Tineh, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa. Discussions centered on political and security developments in Lebanon and the wider region.
The meeting, which lasted over an hour, allowed for what Issa described as a “direct dialogue” between the U.S. side and the Parliament speaker, noting that information reaching Washington “often differs from realities on the ground.”
Gabriel later described the Ain al-Tineh meeting as “very productive,” praising the opportunity to discuss Lebanon’s domestic situation as well as its regional ties with Syria, the Gulf, and other Middle Eastern states.
He expressed optimism about the progress of ongoing negotiations and reaffirmed U.S. support for the Lebanese Army to ensure they carry out their duties effectively.
Geagea, a prominent and outspoken critic of Hezbollah who repeatedly calls for the group’s disarmament, met with the delegation in Maarab in the presence of MP Ghassan Hasbani of the “Strong Republic” bloc, the head of the party’s Foreign Relations Department, former minister Richard Kouyoumjian, Executive Committee member Joseph Gebeily, and Perla Salibi.
Following the hour-and-a-half meeting, Gabriel described the discussion as “fruitful,” saying it included a detailed review of Washington’s stance on Lebanon and the challenges shaping the relationship between Beirut and Washington, at both the administration and congressional levels.
He stressed that Lebanon must take “appropriate steps” in the coming months to strengthen its relationship with the United States. Gabriel also noted that the delegation had recently returned from a tour of the Gulf region, including Qatar, as well as meetings with Saudi officials, in an effort to form a clearer picture of the role of U.S.–Lebanese relations within the broader landscape of U.S. ties to Arab and Gulf states.
Gabriel added that the task force is hosting a group of Washington-based experts specializing in Lebanese policy, including former U.S. ambassadors to Lebanon and representatives from think tanks and policy institutions. He said the group looks forward to further meetings later this week. ❞