BEIRUT – The United States has made it clear that the Shi’ite armed group Hezbollah must not be part of Lebanon’s next government, marking a firm stance following the group’s military defeat by Israel last year, US Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus stated during a visit to Lebanon on Friday.
Ortagus is the first senior US official to visit Lebanon since President Donald Trump took office and since Joseph Aoun was elected president. Her visit comes as Lebanon faces a stalled cabinet formation process, with Hezbollah’s ally, the Amal movement, insisting on approving all Shi’ite Muslim ministers, contributing to the deadlock.
Speaking after her meeting with President Aoun, Ortagus dismissed concerns about Hezbollah’s influence, stating, “We are not afraid of Hezbollah because they have been defeated militarily.” She emphasized that the US has set “clear red lines” to prevent Hezbollah from using its power to intimidate the Lebanese people, including participation in the government.
Her remarks come in the wake of a ceasefire deal, brokered by the US and France, that ended months of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The agreement originally set a 60-day deadline for Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, Hezbollah to disarm and retreat, and Lebanese troops to take control of the region. That deadline has now been extended to February 18.
While Ortagus acknowledged the new deadline, she did not explicitly confirm whether Israeli forces would fully withdraw from Lebanese territory. “February 18 will be the date for redeployment. The IDF will finish their redeployment, and Lebanese troops will move in behind them. We are very committed to that firm date,” she stated.
During her visit, Ortagus is also expected to meet with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri—who also leads Amal—and visit southern Lebanon with the Lebanese army.