US Extends Lebanon's National Emergency
US President Joe Biden decides to extend Lebanon's national emergency for another year, citing the continuous transfer of advanced weapons from Iran to Hezbollah as a threat to Lebanon's sovereignty.
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For another year, Biden extends the state of national emergency in Lebanon
Due to "continuing acts compromising US national security," US President Joe Biden has chosen to prolong the state of national emergency in Lebanon for another year, according to the White House.
"This is a major and unusual threat to the United States' security and foreign policy, “Iran’s continuing arms transfers to Hezbollah…. continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States,” the White House adds in a statement.
The Ambassadors of France and the US to Beirut have recently visited Saudi Arabia, in an uncommon move to "consider measures which aim to put a lot of pressure on Lebanese politicians to speed the formation of a new government," according to the French Embassy.
In a statement, the French Embassy added that the visit, which was followed by a meeting on the Lebanese situation, was held on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Italy in late June between the foreign ministers of France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.
Besides, the Israeli website "Walla" quoted Israeli security sources as saying that the fall of Lebanon brings “Israel” closer to war, stressing the importance of the US support for the Lebanese army before Hezbollah and Iran step in to fill the void.
PM-designate Saad Hariri has recently announced his resignation from forming the Lebanese government.
On his part, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken considers that Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri's resignation after nine months of being in charge of forming a government constitutes "yet another disappointing development for the Lebanese people," who are mired in a stifling political and economic crisis.
Following Saad Hariri's resignation, the Lebanese Presidency reported that binding parliamentary consultations to choose a new Prime Minister will begin on Monday, July 26.
