Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL-16) and Darrell Issa (R-CA-48), Co-Chairs of the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen calling on the United States to increase diplomatic pressures, including economic sanctions, on Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament Nabih Berri and those in Lebanon who continue to obstruct the presidential election process and further destabilize the country.
The failure to adhere to the Lebanese constitution and hold an open and fair
parliamentary session to elect a president clearly benefited Hezbollah and
the Iranian regime that calls the shots from the shadows and harms the Lebanese people. LaHood and Issa urged the Administration take a revitalized policy approach toward Lebanon, including renewed diplomatic efforts and effective targeted support through USAID and to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
In the letter, LaHood and Issa write in part:
Since October 7, 2023, we have watched Isarel fight against Iranian terror proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, including increasingly significant engagement on the southern border of Lebanon. Hezbollah is today dramatically weakened through the targeting of Hezbollah militants and leadership. As Hezbollah’s grip on Lebanon weakens, and it continues to lose leaders, foot soldiers, infrastructure, financing, and influence, we believe the United States should move forward with direct pressure of Speaker Nabih Berri, Lebanon’s Parliament, and other political leaders to act quickly and hold immediate elections for president. Any continued delay by the Speaker of the Parliament – or others – to obstruct the constitution and hold an open and fair parliamentary session to elect a president is unacceptable.
We believe that electing a president is not ancillary to the current conflict but of central importance to the future of Lebanon. Without a president, and fully operational government, the Lebanese people are denied a national voice and lack a realistic leadership structure to negotiate efforts towards peace on the southern border. This situation has clearly benefited Hezbollah and its terror masters in Tehran that call the shots from the shadows and continue to harm the Lebanese people.
We also underscore the necessity of a stronger approach from your Administration. The United States must throw its diplomatic weight behind advancing this reform, including through the Quint, and economically by imposing meaningful sanctions. The U.S. should also be prepared to use all the tools we have to review and freeze the assets – including dollar denominated and other assets within the United States – of those who continue to block the electoral process.
Over the last 20 months, Speaker Nabih Berri, has specifically obstructed the electoral process and is clearly not acting in the best interest of Lebanon and its people. He continues to be a main barrier to the opening of Parliament and this and any intentional prevention of a timely presidential election must be viewed for what it is – exceedingly harmful to Lebanon’s citizens and potential future recovery.
The full letter can be read HERE.
LaHood and Issa, both of Lebanese descent, have led numerous delegations to Lebanon during their time in Congress. In 2022 and 2023, LaHood and Issa led efforts to urge the United States to push for timely and fair presidential elections in Lebanon.
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