US demands Hezbollah be omitted from Lebanon government

The United States has demanded that Hezbollah must not be part of Lebanon’s government.

Washington’s Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said on Friday after meeting Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun that she was “not afraid” of the armed group “because they’ve been defeated militarily”. She did point out that the US has taken a “red line” in terms of its continued involvement with the government.

The Shia Muslim, Iran-backed, Hezbollah is believed to have been weakened by Israel’s recent war on Lebanon, but maintains a significant political role.

“We have set clear red lines … that]Hezbollah] won’t be able to terrorise the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government”, Ortagus told reporters.

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, later slammed Ortagus ‘ comments as “blatant interference” in Lebanon’s affairs.

Ortagus ‘ statement was “full of malice and irresponsibility” and attacked a component of “Lebanese political life”, Raad said in a statement, adding that the remarks amounted to “blatant interference in Lebanon’s sovereignty”.

Since Donald Trump took office and Aoun was elected president, Ortagus is the first senior US official to travel to Lebanon.

Her visit comes as a cabinet formation process in Lebanon, which is being held on sectarian lines. Hezbollah’s ally, the Amal Movement, has insisted on approving all Shia Muslim ministers, keeping the process in deadlock.

Lebanese officials were reportedly anticipating Ortagus’s harsh remark about Hezbollah.

Israel’s withdrawal from south Lebanon, Hezbollah’s withdrawal of its fighters and arms, and the deployment of Lebanese troops to the area were all set for 60 days by the United States and France’s ceasefire in late November.

However, Israeli forces have continued to carry out demolition operations in southern Lebanon, and the withdrawal deadline has now been extended to February 18.

Ortagus made reference to the new Friday withdrawal date, but he did not specifically mention the Israeli army’s withdrawal from Lebanese territory.