Last year, American taxpayers sent $218 million in military assistance to Lebanon, and more than twice that amount in civilian aid. The purpose of this support is to strengthen the government in Beirut against Hizballah’s efforts to gain control over the country. But, as Tamara Berens explains, it’s too late:
On the eve of Lebanon’s 100th birthday [this year], the country defaulted on its debt of $1.2 billion. Facing a perilous financial crisis exacerbated by COVID-19, with a 70-percent decline in the value of its currency, Lebanon will look to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a multibillion-dollar bailout. As Hizballah tightens its grip on the Lebanese government—Prime Minister Hassan Diab is backed by Hizballah and welcomed Hizballah into his cabinet—it is time for the U.S., [as] the largest contributor to the IMF, to act. . . . The Trump administration has the duty and the capability to counter Hizballah’s influence in the country.
Instead, the United States thus far opts to provide unconditional aid to Lebanese institutions that only serve to strengthen Hizballah’s [dangerous] activities. Consider the Lebanese Armed Forces, [which] has not only stood by as Hizballah gained a preponderance of force in southern Lebanon—it has actively partnered with the Iran-backed group.
The U.S. cannot continue to pedal the importance of “sovereignty” and “territorial integrity” in Lebanon while contributing to Iranian ambitions that violate these promises. In this time of crisis in Lebanon, the U.S. should stand behind Lebanese protestors who are risking their lives to denounce Iranian encroachments on their country. The U.S. must not agree to an IMF bailout or future aid payments to the Lebanese miltary unless it receives assurances that Hizballah will not benefit from them.
Read more on Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/us-must-halt-unconditional-aid-lebanon-opinion-1515196