September 3, 2019

In the wake of the latest Hezbollah attacks on Israel from Lebanese territory, the American Mideast Coalition for Democracy calls upon US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to force the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701 in Lebanon.

“Unless the Lebanese government can gain control of Hezbollah and disarm it within their territory, the Iranian-backed terror group will sooner or later provoke a major Israeli response and the Lebanese people will suffer,“ said AMCD co-chair, Tom Harb.

After the major conflict in 2006, when Israel was forced to launch an incursion into Lebanese territory in order to push Hezbollah back away from its border, UN peacekeeping troops were deployed into the area in order to prevent this situation from developing again.

“Clearly UNIFIL troops have failed,” continued Mr. Harb. “Hezbollah has been allowed to deploy forces over the Blue Line into the 35 mile buffer zone set up by UNSC Resolution 1701 in 2006. The government of Lebanon has clearly violated this resolution, and UNSC Res. 1559, by allowing Hezbollah not only to keep the arms it earlier possessed, but it has allowed Iran to continue supplying advanced weaponry to this terrorist organization within its borders. The government of Lebanon must be called to account.”

AMCD calls on Secretary Pompeo to pressure the Lebanese government by whatever means necessary to implement Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701. We further call on the United Nations to convene an emergency meeting to address and correct the failures of UNIFIL and any measures necessary to protect the civilian population in case there is a major break out of hostilities.

In order to avoid escalation of the conflict, Hezbollah must be forced to stand down by the government of Lebanon with assistance from the UN peacekeeping force. Otherwise, the Lebanese people will pay a heavy price.