Raad on Ortagus' statement: Clear interference in Lebanese sovereignty
4 Min Read
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc in the Lebanese parliament comments on the statements made by the US Deputy Envoy to the Middle East, in which she hatefully attacked Hezbollah.
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The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, center, speaks to journalists after his meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. (AP)
Responding to the audacious statement of US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus from the presidential palace after meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, where she bragged that "Hezbollah was defeated by Israel and we are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc, MP Mohammad Raad, condemned her remarks as "an attack on a national Lebanese component that is part of national accord and Lebanese politics."
Raad also slammed Ortagus' claim that the US 'has set clear red lines that they won't be able to ... be a part of the government' as "a blatant interference in Lebanese sovereignty and a breakaway from all diplomatic norms and the bases of international relations.”
The Lebanese MP also described Ortagus' statement as "filled with hatred and devoid of responsibility," noting that it "reveals her hostility toward a Lebanese component that confronted and defeated Israeli aggression."
Furthermore, he stressed that "those who wish to speak about corruption do not embrace terrorism," emphasizing that what the Israeli occupation is doing—while being "embraced by American policy—undermines the credibility of the democracy that the US administration claims to uphold at all times and places."
The head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc denounced the US-backed Israeli aggression, stating, "The ugliness of Israel’s war on Gaza and Lebanon is enough for all people to realize who in fact supports, funds, and arms terrorism and who is responsible for displacing people from their land and stripping them of their rights, all while violating international law and norms."
He further stated, "The victor is the one who has exposed the true image of the aggressor, revealing how it commits genocide against civilians, children, and women, targets homes and hospitals, and destroys entire residential neighborhoods—keeping in mind that is still stands as an occupation that has no right even to self-defense."
Raad reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to resistance, adding, "We are counting on the will of our people who remain committed to the choice of resistance,” emphasizing that this choice “protects Lebanon under the equation of the army, the people, and the Resistance."
“This is the realistic equation Lebanon can be proud of protecting its sovereignty through,” he concluded.
Speaking of US “red lines” from the Lebanese presidential palace earlier today, US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus said they include Hezbollah not “being a part of the [Lebanese] government."
She audaciously thanked “our ally Israel” for allegedly “defeating Hezbollah”.
On the February 18 deadline for Israeli withdrawal from South Lebanon, Ortagus referred to the new date without explicitly saying the Israeli army would withdraw from Lebanese territory. Instead, she spoke of redeployment.
"February 18 will be the date for redeployment, when the IDF troops will finish their redeployment, and of course, the (Lebanese) troops will come in behind them, so we are very committed to that firm date," she said.
Following her remarks, the Press Office of the Presidency of the Lebanese Republic issued on Friday a statement denying any involvement in "some" of the US envoy’s comments.
"The Press Office of the Presidency of the Lebanese Republic clarifies that some of the comments made by US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, during her visit to Baabda Palace, express her point of view, and do not concern the Lebanese Presidency,” it read.
