Now, between the US administration and Hezbollah, it is direct confrontation. In recent months, several US officials, starting with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, his deputy David Schenker, and even ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea, have taken turns attacking the Shia formation and explaining to the Lebanese that it is responsible for all the misfortunes they are currently experiencing, from the financial and economic crisis to the institutionalization of corruption and the lack of credibility of the state, which discourages all Arab and international parties to seek help.
Since the arrival of the new US ambassador to Beirut, the US administration seems to have adopted a more offensive and clearer diplomacy. Dorothy Shea multiplies appearances in the media and expresses her requests and criticisms. There was thus the acquittal of Amer Fakhoury, at the express request of the American officials, as well as the positions of the Embassy regarding the popular protest movement, especially regarding the financial appointments, as well as regarding the fate of the governor of the Bank of Lebanon. What was previously discussed discreetly is now the subject of public statements as part of what is known as " offensive communication diplomacy ". Although the Ambassador stated in a television interview yesterday that there was nothing new in the position she developed in an interview with Saudi Al-Hadath (her remarks were the basis of the complaint filed before Judge Mazeh and the latter's judgment), it remains the case that the style she adopts is new in the history of Lebanese-American relations.
The diplomat therefore attacked head-on and Hezbollah responded, first through the complaint filed against her, and then through the decision of Judge Mohammad Mazeh that banned the Lebanese media from conducting interviews with her. According to sources close to the judge, the judge had no illusions about the practical scope of his verdict. But it was for him to react to what he saw as flagrant interference in Lebanese Internal Affairs and a clear will to turn the Lebanese against each other, thereby endangering civil peace. This decision has mobilized the Lebanese throughout the past 24 hours, deepening the divide between them.
Beyond hostile or admiring popular reactions, it is therefore an exchange of messages between the US administration represented by Ambassador Shea on the one hand and Hezbollah on the other.
According to sources close to the Shiite formation, the statements of representatives of the US administration that have multiplied in recent times are aimed at pushing Hezbollah to a direct reaction on the ground that would isolate it and push the Lebanese to disavow it. For these same sources, everything that has been going on for months falls within this framework. While the popular protests launched on October 17 were certainly justified as well as the social demands made by the protesters, the United States quickly tried to exploit the movement to achieve political gains. They have thus tried to rely on discontent within the Shia community to raise it against Hezbollah. As this did not work, continue sources close to the Shiite formation, they tried to mount the other communities against the pro-Iranian party in an attempt to create internal and Community Discord. Finally, the closure of the South Lebanon Road by young people from Barja (and Iqlim el-Kharroub in general, mostly Sunni) is also aimed at harming Hezbollah by cutting off roads between the southern suburbs of Beirut and southern Lebanon, according to these sources. In addition, young people barely out of adolescence were chosen to carry out this mission, making it difficult for the army or law enforcement to react. This is why it has taken some time for these same forces to reopen the southern road in the last few days. According to sources close to Hezbollah, it is therefore a carefully planned plan to discredit him and push him into a violent reaction. But the Shia formation reacted in an unexpected way, striking through justice. A scenario almost identical, but upside down from the one used for the release of the former jailer of Khiam. In this case, the military court had used points of law (such as prescription and the fact that, contrary to what had been said, he did not hold an Israeli passport) to decide his relaxation.
With the convening today of the ambassador of the United States by the minister of Foreign Affairs, the case will resume a normal course and will be dealt with according to diplomatic rules. But the battle between the US administration and Hezbollah will continue. Since the last speech of the Secretary General of the party on June 20, it has even no limit. Hassan Nasrallah said that faced with the equation of starving or laying down arms, " we choose to resist and kill those who want to starve us." These remarks had indeed been perceived by the US embassy as a direct threat. But according to sources close to Hezbollah, it is rather a question of preventing the Lebanese from becoming hungry. For this, the Shia party is preparing to receive shipments of food and medicine carried by Iranian ships. In this case, the part will be more complicated...
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