Growing influence of Hezbollah in regional conflicts to threaten security of Lebanon: US

Beirut, February 16: The United States Secretary Rex Tillerson on Thursday warned Lebanon that Hezbollah's influence in regional conflicts will threaten country’s security. He said that Hezbollah "is a terrorist organization" and there is no distinction between its political and military wings.

 

Notably, while addressing a Beirut news conference, Rex Tillerson said that Hezbollah’s growing arsenal and its involvement in regional conflicts threatened the security of Lebanon. He also stressed that Hezbollah has increased the conflict in Syria and the region and it must stop its activities abroad.

Tillerson also urged the authorities of Lebanon to uphold the country's commitment to staying out of regional conflicts. "Hezbollah is not just a concern for the United States. The people of Lebanon should also be concerned about how Hezbollah's actions, its growing arsenal, bring unwanted and unhelpful scrutiny on Lebanon," Tillerson added.

"Hezbollah entanglement in regional conflicts threatens the security of Lebanon and has destabilizing effects on the region," he said of the Iran-backed Shiite movement, which is part of the Lebanese government. In the end, Tillerson said that US was engaging with Lebanon and Israel to ensure the border remained calm.

Israeli-Lebanese tensions have grown in recent months because of Israeli plans to build a wall at the border, and because of Lebanon’s decision to begin exploring for oil and gas in an offshore block in disputed waters.

While Israel escalated its threats over Lebanon's invitation for offshore gas exploration bids along the countries' maritime border claiming that Lebanon will be drilling in areas owned by Israel. On the other side, Lebanese officials deny the Israeli statements, saying the area where the country plans to drill belongs to Lebanon.