Hezbollah hits back at US criticism of its role in Lebanon

Hezbollah hit back on Thursday against U.S. condemnation of its role in Lebanon, calling it a "violation of sovereignty", after the United States expressed concern over the organization's expanding influence.
 
After meeting Lebanon's prime minister on Tuesday, the U.S. ambassador said the United States was worried about the "growing role" in the cabinet of Hezbollah, an armed Shi'ite group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist organization by Washington.
 
"The negative American position on Hezbollah, and which American ambassadors are eager to repeat after meeting any official in Lebanon, is rejected and condemned," Hezbollah's lawmakers said in a statement.
 
They said U.S. stance "violates national sovereignty and ignores a legitimate right in international law - the right to self defense and to resist every threat and aggression" and was biased towards "the terrorist entity" - a reference to Israel.
 
Hezbollah controls three of the 30 ministries in Prime Minister Saad Hariri's new cabinet, the largest number it has ever held. They include the Health Ministry, which has the fourth-largest budget in the state.