WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on recent developments in Lebanon:
Earlier this week, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced the formation of the Lebanese government after six months of political stalemate. While I welcome the formation of a new government to address the economic, political and security challenges facing Lebanon, I was deeply troubled to learn that the terrorist group Hezbollah and its allies now constitute a majority of the cabinet. The fact that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was the first to congratulate Prime Minister Mikati only adds to these serious concerns.
As I warned after the fall of the previous government in January, Hezbollah poses a grave threat to U.S. interests in the region by inspiring militancy and complicating prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. I urge Prime Minister Mikati to ensure that his government reflects the democratic and peaceful aspirations of the Lebanese people by renouncing violence and abiding by Lebanon’s international commitments, particularly on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
These developments call into question the U.S. assistance package to Lebanon, including support for the Lebanese Armed Forces. I look forward to reexamining our assistance package to Lebanon during the appropriations process.
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