Connelly says still concerned over situation in Lebanon in farewell message

The American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce hosted on Monday a launch banquet in honor of the US ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly marking the end of her diplomatic work in Lebanon, in the presence of a number of caretaker ministers and officials.

In a speech she delivered for the occasion, Connelly noted that she is leaving Lebanon while she remains concerned with the political crisis threatening public institutions, only to serve the interests of Hezbollah and its ally Iran.

"I leave worried that the current political impasse has compromised the institutions of the state, primarily to serve the interests of Hezbollah and its Iranian sponsor. And I am afraid this trend will lead Lebanon down a dangerous path. Hezbollah has repeatedly demonstrated its contempt for international norms of behavior, which most recently resulted in the EU designation. But Hezbollah is also now showing contempt for the Lebanese rules of the game. Its violation of the Baabda Declaration undermines the Lebanese state and risks moving Lebanon from having to contend with spillover effects from Syria to outright involvement in a wider Syrian conflict," Connelly said.