Connelly Meets Hariri, Reiterates U.S. Support for Stability, STL

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly held talks Thursday evening with outgoing premier Saad Hariri at his residence in downtown Beirut, the U.S. Embassy announced in a statement.

Connelly and Hariri discussed the ongoing parliamentary consultations and the position of the Mustaqbal bloc, said the statement.

The U.S. ambassador lauded Hariri's "leadership and commitment to defending Lebanon's sovereignty and stability during his tenure."

She emphasized "the United States' continuing desire to fully cooperate with Prime Minister Hariri and his government in its caretaker capacity on the many issues of shared importance to Lebanon and the United States."

Connelly also reiterated the support of the United States for "Lebanon's stability, independence, and sovereignty, as well as for the Special Tribunal for Lebanon," according to the embassy's statement.