”Hezbollah Must Be Disarmed Immediately” – US Envoy

US envoy to the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, on Sunday called for the immediate disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups, emphasising that Lebanese security forces should take the lead in the effort.

Ortagus made the remarks during an interview with Lebanese broadcaster LBCI at the end of her three-day visit to Beirut.

During the visit, she met with President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and other senior government officials and political leaders.

Her trip followed weeks of escalating Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters and the group’s weapons depots.

The strikes, including two in Beirut’s southern suburbs, were in response to rocket fire from Lebanon into Israeli territory.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah denied any role in the rocket attacks.

She said the exchange of fire tested an already shaky ceasefire that ended a year-long war between Israel and Hezbollah, calling for the disarmament of armed groups across the country.

“It’s clear that Hezbollah has to be disarmed, and it’s clear that Israel is not going to accept terrorists shooting at them, into their country, and that’s a position we understand.

“We continue to press on this government to fully fulfill the cessation of hostilities, and that includes disarming Hezbollah and all militias,” she said.