U.S. promises continuing support for Lebanon to handle refugee crisis

Visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Anne Patterson said on Tuesday that "it is necessary to continue assisting Lebanon as it struggles to cope with the refugee crisis."

According to the National News Agency (NNA), Patterson expressed Washington's readiness to maintain its support for Lebanon in handling challenges.

She also hailed Lebanon's role in combating terrorism and preserving the country's stability.

For his part, Lebanese President Michel Aoun urged the U.S. to maintain assistance for the country's security forces to fully perform missions.

"The army has achieved great success in the preemptive security operations that it is staging as part of its war on terror," Aoun said. "The real solution for the plight of Syrian refugees should be through finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis." Endit