| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Pompeo’s warnings to Lebanon about Hezbollah will be the last straw |
| 2019-04-02 |
| [ENGLISH.ALARABIYA.NET] Over the last week, Leb was immersed in Mike Pompeo’s visit to Beirut, where he concluded his recent trip to the Middle East. The Lebanese government’s warm welcome to the US Secretary of State was soon replaced with pessimism. Pompeo conveyed during meetings with brass hats that Leb’s economy depends on its ability to ensure that Hezbollah’s influence in the country and the region is harnessed. Much of the fuss surrounding Pompeo’s visit stems from the continued US sanctions on Iran, which have greatly hindered the latter’s ability to finance the activities of its militias across the region, particularly Hezbollah. Pompeo refrained from sugar coating his words, delivering the firm message that Leb must prevent Hezbollah from using its banking sector to circumvent US sanctions. Pompeo echoed what his previous two envoys, David Satterfield and David Hale, had communicated to the Lebanese state a few months earlier. Yet the Lebanese political establishment chooses to ignore these warnings and maintains the same destructive rhetoric that has led to Leb's current predicament. |
| Posted by:Fred |