Senior Lebanese Official Accuses Iran of Using Hezbollah Against the President

Against the backdrop of efforts to advance an agreement in Lebanon, Hezbollah is receiving instructions from Iran to incite against President Joseph Aoun. A senior political figure in the Lebanese government said, "Hezbollah is receiving instructions from Iran to incite against President Joseph Aoun." According to the source, Hezbollah is acting this way דווקא at a time when "President Aoun seeks to achieve what is best for Lebanon, in terms of its future and sovereignty, without any Iranian intervention." This was reported by Israel Hayom.

The official added that President Aoun’s position, and that of the Lebanese government, which enjoys broad public trust among the Lebanese people, is that there is an opportunity to reach an agreement between Israel and Lebanon that could restore calm and put in place an effective plan to disarm Hezbollah. According to the source, the Lebanese security apparatus would be able to deal with Hezbollah if it receives American logistical and equipment support, along with intelligence coordination between the sides.

Against this background, Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said that "the distinction between Hezbollah’s political wing and military wing is not realistic at all." He stressed that Hezbollah is "one integrated entity, representing an illegitimate military organization on Lebanese soil, and nothing more than Iran’s armed arm, used to destabilize the entire Middle East."