US Congressman Mike Pompeo held talks Thursday with former Social Affairs Minister Nayla Moawad during a meeting attended by US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale, head of the Independence Movement Michel Moawad and March 14 Secretariat General Coordinator Fares Souaid. Pompeo and the US delegation met Moawad over lunch at her residence in Baabda.

Attendees discussed the latest security developments and the challenges facing Lebanon amid terrorist threats and regional cross-border fighting and stressed the need to elect a new president to strengthen the role state institutions.

The attendees also touched on the recent US military aid to the Lebanese Army and security forces to enable them to better confront future challenges and stressed that only legitimate armed forces could protect Lebanon against terrorist threats.