On 4 April 2025, General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam bin Haji Jaffar, paid a courtesy call on General Rodolphe Haykal, Commander in Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces, at the Lebanese Army Headquarters in Beirut. The meeting was held in conjunction with General Mohd Nizam’s Official Visit to Lebanon from 2 to 6 April 2025.
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General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam was accompanied by Datuk Lokman Hakim bin Ali, Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence Malaysia; Lieutenant General Dato’ Zahani Zainal Abidin RMAF, Commander of the Malaysian Joint Force; Ambassador Azri, and senior officials from the Malaysian delegation.
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Upon arrival, General Datuk Haji Mohd Nizam was welcomed with a Guard of Honour and later laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, symbolising Malaysia’s solidarity with Lebanon and respect for its fallen soldiers.
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During the bilateral meeting, both parties underscored the importance of continued collaboration in the field of defence and security. Discussions centred on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, particularly through knowledge-sharing, military training opportunities, and exchange of expertise in peacekeeping operations.
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A key focus of the meeting was Malaysia’s long-standing contribution to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), especially through the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) 850-12. The leaders exchanged views on improving interoperability, enhancing troop readiness, and expanding joint initiatives that support regional peace and humanitarian efforts in southern Lebanon.
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General Haykal expressed appreciation for the professionalism and humanitarian role of MALBATT 850-12, and acknowledged the positive impact Malaysian peacekeepers have had in building trust with local communities and ensuring the effectiveness of the UN mandate in the region.
