Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, has long been the country’s dominant political force and has formed part of the government for decades.
A Trump administration envoy to the Middle East pressed Lebanon’s new leaders on Friday to ensure that Hezbollah does not become part of the government, as the country grapples with a fragile cease-fire and violence that could undermine its push for stability.
The United States deputy envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, said at a news conference in Beirut that the United States has set “clear red lines” with the Lebanese government to isolate Hezbollah. Ms. Ortagus said that Lebanon’s leaders were committed to ensuring that the Iran-backed militia “is not a part of this government in any form.”
Her remarks came after she met with Lebanon’s new president, Joseph Aoun, who later appeared to contradict her suggestion. In a statement, his office said that some of Ms. Ortagus’s comments expressed her “personal viewpoint,” without elaborating on which ones.
Lebanon’s new leadership will most likely need to strike a balance with Hezbollah, which has long been the country’s dominant political force, but has been battered by a 14-month war with Israel. Washington has sought to capitalize on Hezbollah’s weakened standing in recent weeks by pressuring Lebanese officials to undermine its political stranglehold, but the group still holds significant power in Parliament.
The visit by Ms. Ortagus, a former State Department spokeswoman, was the first by a senior U.S. official since Mr. Trump took office, providing some of the earliest public indications of what the new U.S. administration’s objectives look like in Lebanon.
Mr. Aoun was elected president last month, after years of political gridlock, and he has designated a new prime minister, Nawaf Salam, to form a government. That is seen as crucial step to restoring stability to Lebanon after years of crisis, but the effort has so far been slow.