US demands Hezbollah be omitted from Lebanon government

The United States has recently made it clear that Hezbollah should not participate in the Lebanese government. This statement demonstrates the U.S.'s concern about the political landscape of Lebanon and its worries about Hezbollah's influence within the country.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Morgan Ortagus, stated after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Aoun that she was "not afraid" of Hezbollah, arguing that the armed group "has been defeated militarily." However, she emphasized that the U.S. has set a "red line" regarding Hezbollah's continued participation in government affairs. This stance underscores the U.S.'s firm opposition to Hezbollah's involvement in Lebanese governance.

Hezbollah is an Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim organization believed to have been weakened in Israel's recent war with Lebanon, but it still maintains significant political influence. Ortagus told reporters: "We have drawn very clear red lines... [Hezbollah] cannot intimidate the Lebanese people, and that includes being part of the government." These remarks highlight the U.S.'s determination to limit Hezbollah's power and prevent its dominance in Lebanese politics.

In response to Ortagus's remarks, the head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, subsequently issued a statement, vehemently criticizing Ortagus's comments as "blatant interference in Lebanese affairs." Raad stated in a statement that Ortagus's statement was "full of malice and irresponsibility" and attacked a component of "Lebanese political life," adding that these comments amounted to "blatant interference in Lebanese sovereignty."

Notably, Ortagus is the first senior U.S. official to visit Lebanon since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and the election of Aoun as president. Her visit comes at a time when the cabinet formation process in Lebanon is stalled, with Lebanese government positions divided along sectarian lines. Hezbollah's ally, the Amal Movement, has been insisting on approving all Shiite Muslim ministers, leading to a deadlock in the formation of the government.

During Ortagus's visit, protests broke out in Lebanon. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed demonstrations held near Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport to protest Ortagus's remarks. In addition, Ortagus mentioned a new date for Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon but did not explicitly state that Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanese territory. "February 18th will be the date for the redeployment, where [Israeli] forces will complete their redeployment, and of course, [Lebanese] forces will go in behind them, so we are very committed to that set date," she said.