The Security Council Urges Lebanon to Avoid External Tensions

On Friday, February 8, the United Nations Security Council called on Lebanese parties to avoid any policy based on external conflicts "as a significant priority." Although the statement does not explicitly specify, it appears that the intended audience of this statement is clearly "Hezbollah Lebanon," which has sent fighters to Syria to support the government of Bashar al-Assad. The Council also called for the implementation of its previous resolutions, emphasizing the "disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon" so that "no group other than the legitimate government of Lebanon holds weapons and power." This part of the statement also seems to target Hezbollah. The UN Security Council's statement welcomed the breaking of the nine-month deadlock in forming a national unity government in Lebanon. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Thursday that the new government adheres to Security Council Resolution 1701 and the policy of avoiding tensions in the region, considering them two essential elements for Lebanon's stability. Resolution 1701 was adopted after the 2006 war between Lebanon and Israel, calling on both sides to refrain from provocative actions against each other. The Lebanese government's policy of avoiding tensions also emerged following the Syrian civil war and the presence of Hezbollah forces in Syria supporting the Syrian army and Bashar al-Assad's government. Members of the UN Security Council also encouraged all political leaders to assist in the formation of the new government "to address security, economic, social, and humanitarian challenges" and urged the new Lebanese government to implement reforms quickly, with anti-corruption and strengthening auditing and transparency being among the key issues. The new Lebanese government was formed on February 1 after eight months of negotiations among political groups over the cabinet formation; however, the United States expressed concern about Hezbollah's control of three ministries in the new government while welcoming its formation. The U.S. State Department is worried that the budget of the three ministries controlled by Hezbollah may be used for this "Shiite paramilitary group." Hezbollah's share in the new Lebanese government increased from two ministers, including the ministers of industry and youth and sports in the previous government, to three main positions, now including the health ministry. The U.S. has designated Hezbollah as an international criminal organization and considers it a terrorist group. A U.S. Treasury official had also warned about Hezbollah's potential misuse of the health ministry's budget for its own interests. Consequently, it is expected that delivering financial aid to Lebanon's health ministry will face challenges due to U.S. sanctions against Hezbollah. However, Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, emphasized last Wednesday that "the country's money belongs to the country and the people of Lebanon and should not be spent outside its legal framework." He also called for calm and avoidance of internal tensions while urging a fight against corruption and waste of funds. Nasrallah stated that the group would support Iran in the event of a war between Iran and the United States. Hezbollah is an ally of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, and several of its forces are present in Syria during the country's civil war. Israel has consistently expressed concern over the presence of Hezbollah forces, which are close to Iran, and has attacked military positions and bases in Syria believed to belong to Hezbollah and forces close to the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent months. Hezbollah is considered a major party in Lebanon's internal politics, with a complex political system and an active role in the country's domestic political landscape.