The United States expressed greater concern over the situation in Lebanon on Friday, warning in a first statement since Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s televised resignation against “using Lebanon as a venue for proxy conflicts or in any manner contributing to instability in that country.”
The US military also confirmed that the ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels toward the Saudi capital on November 4, bore “Iranian markings” and “that in itself provides evidence of where it came from.”
Lieutenant General Jeffrey L Harrigian, from the Air Force Central Command, speaking at a press conference in advance of the Dubai Air Show in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, said “there have been Iranian markings on those missiles” including the one fired last Saturday. “To me, that connects the dots to Iran” he said.
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“How they got it there is probably something that will continue to be investigated over time” the US military General said. He added that “what has been demonstrated and shown based on the findings of that missile is that it had Iranian markings on it. That in itself provides evidence of where it came from.”
Asked about Lebanon, the US General showed concern over the unfolding situation, he said “it’s key to provide diplomatic solutions to the tensions surrounding Lebanon instead of going to war”.
The US concern about a risk of military confrontation in Lebanon was also expressed in a statement by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the first official statement released since Mr Hariri left the country. Mr Tillerson said Washington “strongly supports the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Lebanon and of its political institutions.” It also urged “all parties both within Lebanon and outside to respect the integrity and independence of Lebanon’s legitimate national institutions, including the Government of Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces.” The statement did not refer to Mr Hariri’s resignation and addressed him as “Lebanese Prime Minister” and “a strong partner of the United States.”
Washington without mentioning Hizbollah by name noted that “there is no legitimate place or role in Lebanon for any foreign forces, militias or armed elements other than the legitimate security forces of the Lebanese state.” It cautioned “against any party, within or outside Lebanon, using Lebanon as a venue for proxy conflicts or in any manner contributing to instability in that country.”
Separately, Mr Tillerson speaking to reporters during his Asia trip, said that if Mr Hariri is “going to step down, as I understand it, he needs to go back to Lebanon to make that official. I‘m hopeful that if that is still his intent to leave that he’ll do that so that the government of Lebanon can function properly.”
Mr Tillerson’s statements came as Saudi minister for Arab Gulf affairs Thamer Al Sabhan continued his meetings in Washington on Friday. The National learned that Mr Al Sabhan held an expanded meeting at the White House attended by senior officials who handle the Middle East, and Acting Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs at the State Department David Satterfield.
Adam Ereli, a former State Department official who served as US ambassador to Bahrain between 2007 and 2011, told The National that Mr Tillerson’s statements stand in contrast to US President Donald Trump’s views on the situation.
“Statements from the Secretary of State in support of Lebanon should be read in the context of other statements by President Trump expressing virtually unconditional support for the leadership of Saudi Arabia” Mr Ereli said. “International diplomacy is never easy, but it’s even harder when the President of the US and his Secretary of State consistently appear to be on different sides of the issues.”
A report in the Washington Times on Thursday said Mr Tillerson may be on his way out by January and a leading replacement for the Secretary of State position is current CIA director Mike Pompeo.
