BEIRUT: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Friday accused Hezbollah of stealing the Lebanese state’s resources and claimed its presence in Parliament was partially based on “intimidation.”
“Hezbollah robs the Lebanese state of resources that rightfully belong to its people,” Pompeo said during a joint news conference in Beirut with Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil. The U.S. designates Hezbollah – a key ally of Bassil and his Free Patriotic Movement – as a terrorist organization.
“Whether through political promises or outright intimidation, Hezbollah sits inside the national assembly [and] other state institutions and pretends to support the state. Meanwhile, Hezbollah defies the state and the people of Lebanon through a terrorist wing that is intent on spreading its destruction,” Pompeo said, claiming that Hezbollah “stands in the way of the Lebanese people’s dreams.”
He said, “The Lebanese people should no longer be made to suffer for the political and military ambitions of an outlaw nation [Iran] and its terrorist affiliate” and that it would “take courage for the nation of Lebanon to stand up to Hezbollah’s criminality, terror and threats.”
The secretary of state praised the U.S. sanctions on both Hezbollah and Iran, saying they were having their intended effect.
“Our pressure on Iran is simple – it’s aimed at cutting the funding for terrorists. It is working,” he said, pointing to Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah’s call in a speech earlier this month for more donations as evidence.
“We believe that our work is already constraining Hezbollah’s activities,” he added.
Earlier in the day, after his arrival to Lebanon, Pompeo had met with President Michel Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Saad Hariri and other top officials.
Pompeo will meet for dinner with MP Michel Moawad later Friday and is set to remain in Lebanon until Saturday when he is scheduled to meet with Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Elias Aoude
BY DAILY STAR LEBANON
