U.S. reaffirms importance of close partnership with Lebanon

BEIRUT, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reaffirmed the importance of the U.S. close partnership with Lebanon, the U.S. embassy said Thursday.

Tillerson held a meeting with Lebanon's President Michel Aoun Thursday immediately after arriving in Beirut, during which he discussed Lebanon's gas and border dispute with Israel.

Tillerson left the meeting with Aoun without making a statement, but he signed the guest book at the Baabda Presidential Palace.

He later held talks with Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri at Ain el-Tineh.

Tillerson "reaffirmed to Berri the importance of the close U.S.-Lebanese partnership as the two countries work together to pursue common goals that advance Lebanon's sovereignty, stability, and prosperity," the U.S. embassy said on its Twitter page.

Israel has recently escalated its threats over Lebanon's invitation for offshore gas exploration bids along the disputed maritime border.

Israel claims that Lebanon will be drilling in Israeli territories, but Lebanese officials have rejected the claims, saying the area where it plans to drill belongs to Lebanon.

The long-standing border dispute between the two countries resurfaced recently as Lebanon invited foreign companies to sign exploration deals. U.S. officials have previously tried to mediate the Israeli-Lebanese dispute. Enditem