U.S. Delegation's Visit to Lebanon: Hezbollah's Influence in the New Government Will Not Be Tolerated

A special delegation from Donald Trump, the President of the United States, is set to deliver a firm message to Lebanon's leaders during its visit, stating that the United States will not tolerate Hezbollah's uncontrolled influence and that of its allies in the formation of the new government. An American government official, a Western diplomat, and several regional government sources told Reuters that the message from the special delegation will be that if the Lebanese government does not commit to enacting reforms, eliminating corruption, and curbing Hezbollah, which is backed by the Islamic Republic, Lebanon will face deeper isolation and further economic devastation. The American delegation, led by Morgan Ortagus, the Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs, will meet with the new President Joseph Aoun, former President of the International Court of Justice Nohad Salam, the new Prime Minister, and Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament. Nohad Salam was tasked over three weeks ago with forming a government where senior positions are traditionally divided among Lebanon's sectarian communities. According to Reuters, the U.S., seeking to curb Hezbollah's influence, intends to leverage the blow the group received in its war with Israel last year. Following the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7 last year, Hezbollah unilaterally began its rocket and drone attacks on northern Israel. In response, Israel launched severe attacks against the group's positions in Lebanon and Syria, killing hundreds of members of this major proxy arm of the Islamic Republic in the region, including its leader and senior military commanders such as Hassan Nasrallah, Foad Shukr, Ibrahim Aqil, and Hashem Safi al-Din. Analysts also believe that the election of Joseph Aoun, an American-backed politician, as Lebanon's president reflects Hezbollah's declining influence following Israel's heavy strikes against this Iranian proxy group and also indicates a revival of Saudi influence in Lebanon. A senior U.S. official told Reuters, 'It is important for us to set our tone according to what we believe the new Lebanon should look like in the future.' He added, 'Hezbollah has been defeated, and the new government must adapt to this new reality.' Hezbollah and its Shiite ally Amal, led by Nabih Berri, hold a significant number of seats in the country's 128-member parliament. Nohad Salam has allowed them to nominate four ministers, including the important position of Minister of Finance, out of every five Shiite ministers in the new government. Several political sources in Lebanon told Reuters that they have also insisted on retaining the right to veto who is chosen as the fifth minister. Analysts say allowing Hezbollah or Amal to maintain their current influence in the government could hinder Lebanon's access to vital foreign financial resources for recovery from the financial crisis and reconstruction after last year's war. The International Monetary Fund states that Lebanon's five-year economic collapse has led to triple-digit inflation and a two-thirds reduction in the central bank's foreign currency reserves. Regional countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, which may play a significant role in Lebanon's reconstruction, also have similar demands for reforms in the country.