The file of Hezbollah’s tunnels in the south of Lebanon was the main item of discussion during meetings held Monday between Lebanese officials and US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, David Hale who said it was unacceptable to have a militia outside the control of the state.
It was clear that Hale’s meetings in Beirut came as part of Washington’s policy to announce its new foreign strategy to counter Iran and Hezbollah.
“It is unacceptable to have a militia outside the control of the state and unanswerable to all the people of Lebanon, digging attack tunnels across the Blue Line into Israel or assembling an arsenal of over 100,00 missiles with which to threaten regional stability,” Hale said following his meeting with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri.
The US official said his country is proceeding with its efforts to counter Iran's dangerous activities around the region, including the financing and activities of proxy terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah.
Hale heard from President Michel Aoun that the demarcation process of the Southern Lebanese border has been delayed and that Lebanon hoped that this operation would be re-launched soon, while Speaker Nabih Berri spoke about Israel's incessant daily violations of Resolution 1701 and the Blue Line.
Lebanese informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Hale tackled in his meetings with officials regional files, the US strategy to activate sanctions against Iran, in addition to the issue of the tunnels at the southern border.
While sources said new US sanctions could be imposed on Iran and Hezbollah, and all parties related to them, other sources said that the US official spoke about pushing hard for old sanctions to take effect, without mentioning the presence of new ones.
Following his meeting with Hariri on Monday, Hale said he is in Lebanon to discuss America’s regional strategy and the value of US relations with the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people.
“The United States is committed to working with Lebanon’s people and legitimate state institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces and Internal Security Forces, to address mutual challenges,” he said.
Commenting on the government formation process, Hale said the international community was closely watching the status of Lebanon’s government.
“The choice of government is for the Lebanese alone, but the type of government chosen concerns all of us who are interested in a stable and prosperous Lebanon -- as does the inability of the Lebanese to make a choice. Crucial economic reforms languish while obstructionism drags down the economy, endangering the country,” he said.
According to Hale, the US encourages the caretaker government to move forward where it can, especially on the economy, to avoid further damage and maintain international confidence.
Sources close to Hale’s meetings told Asharq Al-Awsat on Monday that during his meeting with the President, the US diplomat did not hand to Aoun an invitation for Lebanon to attend a global conference focused on the Middle East, particularly Iran, expected in Poland on February 13 and 14.
