NNA - Prime Minister Nawaf Salam received this evening at his residence in Koraytem, US Senator Richard Blumenthal and Ambassador Lisa Johnson and the accompanying delegation, in the presence of Diplomatic Advisor Ali Karanouh.

During the meeting, Blumenthal stressed his support for the new mandate and the government, emphasizing "the importance of continued US support for the Lebanese army to carry out its assigned tasks."

In turn, Salam asked the US Senator, who is currently on a regional tour with a number of US Senators, to "pressure the Israeli side to completely withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories by February 18."

========R.Sh.