The Trump administration put pressure on Lebanon’s new leaders on Friday to ensure Hezbollah does not become a part of the government as the country struggles to deal with a fragile ceasefire and violence that could undermine its steady push.
Morgan Ortagus, deputy U.S. Middle East envoy, said at a press conference in Beirut that the United States has established a “transparent red line” with the Lebanese government to isolate Hezbollah. Ms Otags said Lebanese leaders were committed to ensuring that Iran-backed militias “in any form it is not part of the government.”
Her remarks appeared to contradict her advice after she met with Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun. In a statement, his office said some of Ms. Ortagues’ comments expressed her “personal point of view” without elaborating on which comment.
Lebanon’s new leader is likely to need to balance Hezbollah, a country’s main political force for a long time but has been hit by a 14-month war with Israel. Washington has tried to capitalize on Hezbollah’s vulnerability in recent weeks by forcing Lebanese officials to undermine its political shackles, but the group still has important power in parliament.
The visit of former State Department spokesman Ms. Ortagues, the first of a senior U.S. official since Mr. Trump took office, provides some of the earliest public signs of what the U.S. government’s goal in Lebanon is like.
After years of political stalemate, Mr. Aoun was elected president last month, appointing new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to form the government. This is considered a critical step to restore stability in Lebanon after years of crisis, but efforts have been slow so far.
In Lebanon, Cabinet outposts traditionally split along sectarian boundaries between 18 religious groups that have been around for decades. The new government will require a vote of confidence from 128 Lebanon’s parliamentarians, with Hezbollah and its allies holding a large number of seats.
Hezbollah’s continued swing will put the new government in trouble. Lebanon has emerged from the deadliest war for decades, desperately needed foreign funds to rebuild, but Western governments are reluctant to influence government aid with unrestricted Hezbollah.
Mr. Salam faces political pressure from Hezbollah and the group’s allies, and so far they can choose four out of four out of five Shiite Muslim ministers in his new cabinet, which may be felt in Washington The reason for the shock.
Mr. Salam was seen as a reformist, marking a blow to Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim group. Political opponents had hoped that Mr. Salam’s new government nomination (as stipulated in the country’s sectarian power-sharing agreement) would apply to people who have no relationship with Hezbollah.
“If any Hezbollah agents were appointed as a key position in the new administration, it would be complicated if any support from the new Trump administration was not undermined.” Strengthening the link between the United States and Lebanon.
“This will be the wrench in the work,” he said.
Growing diplomatic pressures emerge in delicate moments.
Israeli forces were supposed to withdraw from Lebanon under the conditions of a 60-day ceasefire in November when the war between Israel and Hezbollah ended.
But they did not do so, according to Lebanese officials, Israeli troops killed twenty-two people last month as thousands tried to return to their homes near the border when the ceasefire expired. The Israeli military said it had fired a “warning shot to eliminate the threat.”
With the armistice now extended to February 18, many in Lebanon are now worried about the prospect of Israel’s continued occupation of the country’s south. Ms. Ortagues said in a press conference on Friday that the United States has been committed to a new ceasefire deadline and that Israeli forces are expected to withdraw at that time.
But as tensions intensify, the Israeli military carried out a series of new air strikes deep within Lebanese territory. The military said it targeted Hezbollah’s military sites and accused the group of breaking the terms of the ceasefire agreement. Both parties repeatedly accused the other party of violating the deal.
Lebanon’s state-run news agency reported on attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon, which appeared to be the most intense attack since the war ended in November. No immediate reports of casualties.
Fighting continued on Friday on the border between Lebanon and Syria, with skirmishes between Syrian forces and Lebanese armed gunmen breaking out. Syria’s new rebel authorities said they are trying to cut cross-border smuggling networks, according to the Syrian State News Agency.
Lebanon has feared further instability on its borders since Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December.
