Hezbollah MP hits back at US Embassy
MP Ali Ammar of Hezbollah on Thursday responded to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, lamenting that “day by day, the United States’ blatant interference in Lebanese affairs is intensifying and Lebanon’s sovereignty is crudely violated -- whether through statements from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut or provocative remarks by its ambassador.”
“It is as if someone has appointed themselves guardian over Lebanon, imposing conditions and paths, categorizing its people and political forces, and dictating its choices and orientations,” Ammar said.
“All this occurs before the very eyes of the authorities and those who claim to champion sovereignty, yet turn a deaf ear and remain completely silent in the face of such brazen and flagrant interference,” the MP decried.
He added that “what the Lebanese people want is for the United States to cease its harmful actions and stop meddling in Lebanon’s affairs or imposing tutelage over its decision-making.”
“They want the U.S. to stop shielding the Israeli enemy’s crimes against the Lebanese people, to halt its support for that enemy, and to compel it to cease its aggression and end its occupation of Lebanese territory,” Ammar went on to say.
“The Lebanese people are capable of determining their own destiny and charting their own paths and choices through dialogue among all their constituent groups and political forces,” the lawmaker said.
He added: “The Lebanese people -- Hezbollah included -- desire a strong, capable state that fulfills its duties to protect its land, sovereignty, and people -- a state independent in its decision-making and empowered by its army, its people, and its national unity.”
“They do not want a state whose choices are mapped out by the United States … or a state that becomes a tool for implementing U.S. schemes and projects that harm Lebanon’s interests and unity while serving only Israel,” Ammar stated.
The U.S. Embassy in Beirut had earlier said on X that “every day, the Lebanese people make it clear they prefer Lebanese state institutions over Hezbollah’s weapons.”
“Southern Lebanon does not belong to regional actors or militias. The United States applauds these communities and supports the government of Lebanon in its stated goal to assert sovereignty, enforced by the LAF (Lebanese Army), and ensure that the decisions of war and peace lie exclusively with the Lebanese state,” it added.
Source: Naharnet
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