(The National-Abu Dhabi) Raghida Dergham - During Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's visit to Washington last week, he heard firm declarations that the U.S. does not intend to relent on the issue of sanctions on Hizbullah and those who provide it with political, military and intelligence cover. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, standing beside Hariri, declared that the Middle East is under threat from Iran and that the Lebanese people are under threat from Hizbullah. A high-level American source, summing up the U.S. message to Lebanon, said: "We stressed that he must achieve progress and take concrete steps to distance himself from Hizbullah." The U.S. put forward a set of parameters for clear overarching goals, the source revealed. These goals seek to weaken Hizbullah's hold over Lebanon and gradually dismantle Iranian influence over the country. U.S. officials made it clear that American money being channeled to Lebanon should not be spent to help Hizbullah in any way, and that continued Hizbullah domination over Lebanon would mean aid money would be denied.
2019-08-19 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive