August 18, 2026 - Washington, DC - Adla Massoud of The National reported on ATFL’s Congressional Staff Delegation to Lebanon, which brought Republican and Democratic staff from both chambers of Congress, as well as aides to leadership on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to Beirut. There they met with Lebanese cabinet ministers, military officials, Members of Parliament, and advisers to President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and Speaker of the Parliament Nabih Berri.
This report highlights the breadth of those discussions, which dealt with security issues, Hezbollah’s disarmament, sequencing verification and reconstruction under the US-brokered agreement, banking and governance reforms, and the humanitarian challenges facing residents of south Lebanon.
The visit reflects ATFL’s continued effort to connect U.S. policymakers with perspectives from Lebanon and strengthen the U.S.-Lebanon bilateral relationship.
“This trip provided congressional staff the opportunity to listen, learn and exchange perspectives with Lebanese leaders representing multiple parties and perspectives”, ATFL President and CEO Ed Gabriel told The National.