Washington Renews Its Support for the Lebanese Government in Facing Hezbollah's Influence

Washington Renews Its Support for the Lebanese Government in Facing Hezbollah's Influence
Blinken's statements reflect an integrated American strategy aimed at reducing Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon, exploiting the current situation to strengthen the Lebanese state's authority at the ex
October 12, 2024, 10:31 pm

علم لبنان

In a development reflecting the escalation of American efforts to confront Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon, the United States has affirmed its strong support for the Lebanese government amid international efforts to stop the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, stated that his country "supports the efforts of the Lebanese state to assert itself" in direct confrontation with Hezbollah, indicating America's desire and that of many other countries to help Lebanon regain its full sovereignty.

Blinken told reporters after a summit of Southeast Asian countries in Laos: "It's clear that the Lebanese people have an interest, and a strong interest, in the state asserting itself and taking responsibility for the country and its future."

According to observers, these statements come within the framework of an integrated American strategy aimed at reducing Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon, exploiting the current situation to strengthen the authority of the Lebanese state at the expense of militias.

Diplomatic sources revealed that senior White House official Amos Hochstein told Arab officials that the weakening of Hezbollah due to Israeli attacks should be seen as an opportunity to break the political deadlock in Lebanon. This connection, according to analysts, points to an American vision that sees the current crisis as an opportunity for radical change in the Lebanese political equation.

The American position comes at a time when the Lebanese arena is witnessing local movement pushing towards electing a president "not affiliated with any political party in the country," coinciding with French-American efforts to push Israel towards accepting a 21-day ceasefire. While Hezbollah has announced its acceptance of the ceasefire, Israel continues to reject it so far, according to Western diplomats and Lebanese officials.

Experts in Lebanese affairs see that the declared American support for the Lebanese government comes within the framework of Washington's attempt to redraw the map of political forces in Lebanon, focusing on weakening Hezbollah as a major player. These experts warn that this strategy may lead to more internal tension in Lebanon, especially in light of the existing deep political divisions.

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