The United States is withholding $105 million in security assistance for Lebanon, reported Reuters on Thursday, citing two U.S. officials.
This development comes as Israel has reportedly asked the United States and other countries to condition assistance to Lebanon on how its government handles the U.S.-designated terrorist group and Iranian proxy Hezbollah, which is part of the Lebanese government.
Israel has expressed concern that the funding towards the Lebanese Armed Forces have supported Hezbollah. The LAF, which received $100 million last year from the United States, and Hezbollah are known to have cooperated together.
The U.S. State and U.S. Defense Departments have been for continuing the aid, while many in the White House have advocated for halting it, reported Israeli’s Channel 13.
Israel has called for Lebanon to shut down Hezbollah’s precision-missile manufacturing, in addition to cutting ties with the group.
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Tuesday afternoon that he is tending his resignation to Lebanese President Michel Aoun amid anti-government protests throughout the country.
The protests began as response against a now-scrapped government plan to tax WhatsApp calls, and expanded into demonstrations against government corruption and economic trouble, which includes Lebanon having one of the highest debt levels globally.
