US reportedly seeks new elections in Lebanon, end of Hezbollah ‘stranglehold’ over government

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The United States government is working behind the scenes to bring about a new presidential election in Lebanon, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

Citing unnamed U.S. and Arab officials, the report indicated that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has “called the leaders of Qatar, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in recent days to ask them to support the election of a new Lebanese president.”

The presidency of Lebanon has been vacant since Michel Aoun left office in 2022.

Najib Mikati currently serves as Lebanon’s prime minister, with the powers of the presidency having been assumed by his cabinet.

A pro-Iranian Hezbollah supporter holds up a poster of assassinated Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in front of a building that was destroyed in an Israeli air strike on Beirut southern suburb. (Photo: Marwan Naamani/DPA via Reuters)

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Press Briefing, 30 September, 2024. (Photo: Screenshot of press briefing used in accordance with Article 27a of the Copyright Act)

As Israel’s military operations against Hezbollah have dramatically escalated in recent weeks, the U.S. has viewed the situation as a potential catalyst for the formation of a new Lebanese government that would oppose the Iranian terror proxy group.

The WSJ noted that while Lebanon’s prime minister and parliament speaker support a new election, they have also praised Hezbollah’s actions in the war.

While Saudi officials reportedly support the U.S. initiative to sideline Hezbollah, other nations the U.S. has consulted oppose the plan.

“Officials from Egypt and Qatar – which have played a key role in cease-fire negotiations in both Gaza and Lebanon – told U.S. officials they view the American plan as unrealistic and even dangerous,” the report states. “In talks with U.S. officials, they have argued that Israel will never succeed in destroying Hezbollah and that the group must be a part of any political settlement to the conflict.”

Hezbollah is an officially recognized political party in Lebanon and currently holds 15 seats in parliament.

While these U.S. efforts continue behind the scenes, U.S. State Department Spokesman Matt Miller has publicly clarified Washington's position.

“What we want to see come out of this situation, ultimately, is Lebanon able to break the grip that Hezbollah has had on the country – more than a grip, break the stranglehold that Hezbollah has had on the country and remove Hezbollah veto over a president,” said Blinken.

According to a poll conducted earlier in 2024, Lebanese support for Hezbollah has risen since 2022.

However, 55% of Lebanese respondents said they have no trust in Hezbollah, while only 30% expressed a high level of trust in the organization."