Feltman testifies on Lebanon, protests and Hezbollah

2^min

Jeffrey Feltman testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism on the implications of the current protests sweeping Lebanon.

Feltman noted that Lebanon “is a venue for global strategic competition.”

“Others will happily fill the vacuum if we cede ground,” he said.

On another note, the US official noted that “Russia also eyes Lebanon as a venue to continue its aggressive expansion of its regional and Mediterranean role.”

“As frustrating, needy, and complicated as Lebanon can be, we need to play the long game and not allow Iran, Syria, China, or Russia to exploit our absence,” he added.

Feltman stressed that Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah’s speeches hoping to discredit the demonstrations “have undermined Hezbollah’s carefully cultivated narrative more effectively than years of U.S. efforts to do so.”

“Some in Washington may ask if the LAF should now prepare to confront Hezbollah kinetically and disarm Hezbollah by force. That would be a recipe for civil war, and, as noted above, Iran and its proxies as well as Al-Qaida tend to thrive in civil war situations. We need to think more long term,” he went on saying.

Meanwhile, Feltman said that “Lebanese voters may not be able to strip Hezbollah of its arsenal overnight, but they can seize the next electoral opportunity to strip Hezbollah of the parliamentary partners it uses as force multipliers to assert its will politically: thus, Nasrallah’s red line against early elections.”

Feltman testifies on Lebanon, protests and Hezbollah

Breaking Headlines

US

Lebanon

Protests

From Kiryat Gat: US base oversees Gaza ceasefire and Trump plan

From Kiryat Gat: US base oversees Gaza ceasefire and Trump plan

Lebanese army arrests wanted man in Baalbek on charges of drug trafficking and car theft

Lebanese army arrests wanted man in Baalbek on charges of drug trafficking and car theft

From near-death to hope: Lebanese neurosurgeon defies odds to save critically injured toddler

From near-death to hope: Lebanese neurosurgeon defies odds to save critically injured toddler

Famine spreads to two more areas in Sudan's west, south: UN-backed report

Famine spreads to two more areas in Sudan's west, south: UN-backed report

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Meet Miss Lebanon 2025 contestants: Video

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Series of Israeli airstrikes spark massive fire in southern Lebanon

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Lunar eclipse captivates Lebanon: watch the stunning video

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir in South Lebanon

Israel strikes vehicle in Doueir in South Lebanon

President Aoun: Negotiation is Lebanon's only path forward

President Aoun: Negotiation is Lebanon's only path forward

Israeli strike targets motorcycle in Aita al-Shaab in South Lebanon

Israeli strike targets motorcycle in Aita al-Shaab in South Lebanon

Israeli airstrike kills one in Aita al-Shaab

Israeli airstrike kills one in Aita al-Shaab

33,390 expat registration requests submitted for Lebanon’s upcoming elections; deadline set for Nov. 20

33,390 expat registration requests submitted for Lebanon’s upcoming elections; deadline set for Nov. 20

President Aoun reviews southern developments with UN envoy, meets minister Kamal Shehadeh on tech progress

President Aoun reviews southern developments with UN envoy, meets minister Kamal Shehadeh on tech progress

Walid Jumblatt meets former US diplomat David Hale in Beirut

Walid Jumblatt meets former US diplomat David Hale in Beirut

Lebanon and Egypt sign 15 cooperation agreements at joint committee meeting in Cairo

Lebanon and Egypt sign 15 cooperation agreements at joint committee meeting in Cairo