Exclusive: U.S. withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon - sources - Reuters

-

Thu Oct 31, 2019 / 6:18 PM EDT

Patricia Zengerle and Mike Stone

WASHINGTONWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon, two U.S. officials said on Thursday, two days after the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

The State Department told Congress on Thursday that the White House budget office and National Security Council had decided to withhold the foreign military assistance, the two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not say why the aid was blocked. One of the sources said the State Department did not give Congress a reason for the decision.

The State Department declined to comment.

The administration had sought approval for the assistance starting in May, arguing that it was crucial for Lebanon, an important U.S. partner in the volatile Middle East, to be able to protect its borders. The aid included night vision goggles and weapons used in border security.

But Washington has also repeatedly expressed concern over the growing role in the Beirut government of Hezbollah, the armed Shi'ite group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Following Hariri's resignation on Tuesday amid huge protests against the ruling elite, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Lebanon's political leaders to help form a new government responsive to the needs of its people and called for an end to endemic corruption.

One U.S. official told Reuters he believed the security assistance was necessary for Lebanon, as it struggles with instability not just within its own government but in a turbulent region and houses thousands of refugees from war in neighboring Syria.

The official said it was especially important to strengthen Lebanon's military, which he deemed one of the most capable institutions in the country now, largely because of support from Washington.

The official said drawing aid away from Lebanon could pave the way for Russia to move in. Russia has expanded its influence in Syria since Trump announced he was withdrawing U.S. forces from the northeastern part of the country.

Lebanon has been arguing with foreign donors over international aid for months. Before he resigned, Hariri failed to convince foreign donors to release $11 billion in assistance pledged at a Paris conference last year.

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Mike Stone; Editing by Mary Milliken and Daniel Wallis)

Download the app to read more Reuters News.



https://ift.tt/2C6Zl9j

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Manual on meat inspection for developing countries

-
Image
sinusitis treatment :: Article Creator My 'sinus Infection' Turned Out To Be A One In A Million Nasal Cancer At Just 28 - And Doctors Had To Cut My Eye Out To Save Me By Emily Joshu Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 06:33 EDT, 20 April 2024Updated: 06:35 EDT, 20 April 2024 A 28 year-old California woman has described the shock of being diagnosed with a deadly sinus cancer that affects fewer than one in a million people - and led to the removal of her right eye. The 'golf ball-sized tumor', which had spread throughout her face, was first mistaken for a sinus infection by the woman's doctors.  Annika, who posts about her condition on TikTok, woke up one morning in 2023 and noticed that the inner corner of her right eye was sore.  While she at first thought nothing of it, by the time the evening rolled around, 'my face started to really, really hurt on the right side,' she said in a video.  The next day, her...
Read more

Rash behind ear: Causes, other symptoms, and treatment - Medical News Today

-
Image
A rash behind the ear may occur due to a variety of different medical conditions. Certain viral infections and autoimmune diseases may cause a rash behind the ear in both children and adults. While some causes, such as contact dermatitis, are not concerning, other causes, including rubella, may be more serious. In this article, we look at some of the causes of a rash behind the ear, as well as the other symptoms that they may produce and how to treat them. Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction to a particular substance. If an allergy-inducing substance comes into contact with the skin behind the ear, a rash can form. Allergens that may cause contact dermatitis behind the ears include: shampoos soaps other hair care products For example, hair dye products contain an ingredient called paraphenylenediamine (PPD), which is a common contact allergen. Symptoms Contact dermatitis causes itchiness, dryness, and flaking of the skin that came into contact with the allergen. Diagnosis A doc...
Read more

Freddie Mercury's haunting last picture before tragic death from Aids - Irish Mirror

-
Freddie Mercury's final days in 1991 remain enshrined in mystery, nearly 30 years on. The Queen frontman succumbed to his battle with Aids on November 24, having released a public statement just 24 hours previously that confirmed he was HIV+. Rumours had been swirling about his health status for a number of years, with speculation that he had been tested for HIV and Aids as far back as 1986, after his health declined so rapidly that Queen had to halt their 1987 Magic Tour before it was due to finish. Freddie, real name Farrokh Bulsara, had been something of a recluse in his last two years, preferring to stay at his lavish Garden Lodge home in west London's Kensington than rub shoulders with other celebrities at showbiz parties. Tragically, Freddie's health continued to deteriorate in private, as feverish speculation mounted that he was gravely sick. The last known photos of him show how much weight he had lost during his rare public appearances towards the end. On Sep...
Read more