Members of U.S. Congress call on Biden Administration to do more to solve Lebanese crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. / BEIRUT — Despite the formation of a new government in Lebanon, the political and economic situation remains precarious. The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken calling for the U.S. to address the crisis to avoid further disturbances.

The letter, which was signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY-5), and 24 other Democratic Representatives, contained warnings and expressed deep concern about the worsening economic and political situation in the country.

The Congresspersons declared that these crises destabilize the country and pose clear dangers to the region as a whole. They urged Blinken to take immediate measures to address the suffering of the Lebanese people and prevent a total economic collapse that could ripple throughout the region.

They also drew attention to the danger posed by criminal networks and others, including the Iranian Hezbollah in Lebanon, to commit cross-border criminal acts. The letter also warned of the intention of Russia and Iran to exploit the division of the Lebanese state and society in pursuit of their own regional interests.

A financial assistance program for the Lebanese government should be established, wrote the Congresspersons, allocating funds to the needs of the vulnerable Lebanese. In addition, political assistance must be given to ensure that Hezbollah does not take advantage of the crises and undermine the Lebanese Army or the investigation of the Beirut port explosion.