Blinken: Iran and Hezbollah Should Not Hinder Security and Stability in Lebanon

On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the necessity of fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 during separate meetings with senior officials from Lebanon, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates in London. In his meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, Blinken stated that the United States is committed to a diplomatic solution based on Resolution 1701 to end the conflicts in Lebanon and facilitate the return of Lebanese and Israeli refugees to their homes on both sides of the 'Blue Line.' Blinken reiterated U.S. support for the Lebanese government and its institutions, including the army, while expressing renewed concern over civilian casualties and stressing that the Iranian government and Hezbollah should not obstruct security and stability in Lebanon. He also highlighted U.S. support for UN peacekeepers in Lebanon and the need to ensure their safety and security. In his meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Blinken emphasized the importance of ending the war in Gaza, freeing all hostages, alleviating the suffering of Palestinians, and ensuring basic needs for Gaza residents, while appreciating Jordan's role in this regard. Blinken reiterated the need for a diplomatic solution based on Resolution 1701 to end the conflicts in Lebanon. During his meeting with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, he discussed efforts to end the war in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and Gaza's future after the war. In recent days, Blinken has traveled to the Middle East for the eleventh time since the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack, meeting with senior Israeli, Saudi, and Qatari officials. In the course of the October 7 attack, 1,200 people, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed, and more than 250 others, mostly civilians, were taken hostage. Currently, 101 hostages abducted by Hamas and other Palestinian militants remain in Gaza, with estimates suggesting that at least one-third of them have lost their lives. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the UK, Israel, Canada, Japan, and several other countries. Israel is also engaged with Hezbollah, the main proxy arm of the Islamic Republic, in the north. Following the October 7 attack, Hezbollah unilaterally began its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel. In response, Israel has conducted severe attacks against this group’s positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members supported by the Iranian government, including leaders and senior military commanders such as Hassan Nasrallah, Foad Shukur, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Several countries, including the United States, Israel, Germany, Serbia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Australia, have recognized Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization. This designation means there is no distinction made between its political and military branches, labeling both as terrorist entities. Blinken warned in Qatar that further attacks by the Islamic Republic would have significant negative consequences for Iran.