The United States expressed its concern over developments in Lebanon on Tuesday, particularly the prospect that Hizbullah could take over the country – but is apparently not ready to intervene militarily to prevent the terror group, a close client of Iran, from installing its government.
The United States last week denied reports that it had ordered a buildup of naval vessels off the Lebanese coast, on the prospect that Iranian armed forces would be invited to help keep order, American sources said.
At a press conference Pentagon spokesman David Lapan said that the U.S. was keeping an eye on the situation, because “we do know that political tension, unrest and especially any violence that might follow are threats to regional stability and security.” Lapan was responding to press reports that the U.S. and France were increasing their presence off the Lebanese coast in the wake of a prospective Hizbullah coup.
Lapan added that “the U.S. government desires that all parties use peaceful means to resolve the situation. We continue to monitor the situation very closely.” The United States, he added, “has a valuable relationship with Lebanese Armed Forces, and we are committed to do what we can to strengthen the sovereignty of the institutions as well as of the government of Lebanon.”
The reports said that the IDF was also on high alert, increasing patrols on the border while keeping a wary eye on Hizbullah installations in south Lebanon. Speaking last week, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that Israel needed to be "prepared for every scenario."
U.S. diplomats said that Washington would probably limit its protests to a denial of military aid to Lebanon if Hizbullah's hand-chosen candidate, Najib Miaqti, formed a government. The United States has provided Lebanon with some $1.2 billion in economic and military over the past five years, and the Obama administration has requested an additional $246 million this year. Sources in Congress said that that request, “without a doubt,” would be turned down.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Tuesday that the United States would not cooperate with Hizbullah, which was considered a terrorist group by the United States. However, she said, the make up of the government is an internal Lebanese matter, and Washington would not get involved.
"A Hizbullah-controlled government would clearly have an impact on our bilateral relationship with Lebanon," Clinton told reporters during a press conference with Spain's visiting foreign minister. "Our bottom lines remain as they always have been. We believe that justice must be pursued and impunity for murder ended. We believe in Lebanon's sovereignty and an end to outside interference."
Echoing Clinton's comments was State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, who said that “ultimately, the makeup of the future government of Lebanon is a Lebanese decision," says "We'll see what the final makeup of the Lebanese government is, and then we'll evaluate what that means in our terms of our relationship... The larger the role played by Hizbullah in this government, the more problematic our relationship will be.”