Deputy Middle Eastern envoy Morgan Ortags said she was “not afraid” of Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.
The US demands that Hezbollah not be part of the Lebanese government.
Washington’s Vice President of the Middle Eastern Envoy Morgan Ortags said he was “not afraid” of the armed groups “because they were military defeated” after meeting Lebanon’s President Joseph Own on Friday. But she said the US has set its ongoing role in government “red line.”
Iran-backed Shiite Muslim Hezbollah is believed to have been weakened by Israel’s recent war against Lebanon, but it maintains a significant political role.
“We set a clear red line… (Hezbollah) will not terrorize the people of Lebanese, including being part of the government,” Ortagus told reporters.
Mohammed Rad, head of the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc, later denounced Ortagus’ comments as “blatant interference” in Lebanon’s issues.
Ortagus’ statement was “full of maliciousness and irresponsibility” and attacked components of “Lebanon’s political life,” Raad said in a statement, with the statement equivalent to “blatant interference in Lebanon’s sovereignty.” He added.
Ortagus is the first US official to visit Lebanon since US President Donald Trump took office and AON was elected president.
Her visit comes in the stagnant cabinet formation process in Lebanon, where government jobs are allocated to sectarian boundaries. The Amal Movement, an ally of Hezbollah, has approved all Shiite Muslim ministers and claims they are stuck in the process.
Ortagus was widely expected to convey a harsh message to Lebanese officials regarding Hezbollah.
The ceasefire, mediated by the US and France to end the battle in late November, was a 60-day deadline for Israel to withdraw from South Lebanon, Hezbollah to draw out fighter jets and weapons, and Lebanese forces to deploy to the region. I’ve set it up.
However, Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon to carry out demolition operations in border villages, and the deadline for withdrawal has now been extended until February 18th.
Ortags mentioned the new withdrawal date on Friday, but did not explicitly say that Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon’s territory.
“February 18 will be the date of redeployment when the (Israel) troops end their relocation, and of course, the (Lebanese) troops will come behind them, so we are very committed to that solid date. I’m doing it,” she said.