Is the US pushing Lebanon down a dangerous road?
Arab News · Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib ·
Is the US pushing Lebanon down a dangerous road?
Marco Rubio pushed for and arranged this week’s trilateral military meeting between Israel, Lebanon and the US. The American secretary of state also called the Lebanese authorities and asked for clarification regarding the truck-load of explosives that was seized in the Bekaa area last week. Obviously, the US is pushing the Lebanese state toward greater rapprochement with Israel and a clash with Hezbollah — and this could be dangerous.
Following the seizure of the Hezbollah-linked explosives, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for “stricter enforcement” of weapons outside the authority of the state. He added that there should be “no leniency” for those “compromising the country’s stability.” After the truck was stopped, Hezbollah immediately called the authorities and asked them to hand it over. The group clarified that the explosives were part of their preparations for attacks by the Israeli enemy. Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said the truck incident was a ploy to criminalize the group and drag its members to court.
The group has endured friction with the authorities before, notably last September, when it projected an image of assassinated leader Hassan Nasrallah on to Raouche Rock despite the opposition of the prime minister. However, such friction had been more or less contained and there have been calls recently for dialogue between Hezbollah and the government to clear the air. The Druze leader has said that such dialogue is necessary and possible. It is viewed as a way to reduce internal tensions amid relentless Israeli attacks.
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