Saad Hariri

Premier Saad Hariri conceded that he has “reached a dead end.”

The United States had already identified the risk of a Lebanese government with a pro-Iran majority. Several American officials visited Lebanon to warn Lebanese officials not to appoint Hezbollah politicians to top ministerial posts such as health minister, and also to warn about the ramifications of rapprochement with Iran.

The newly formed Lebanese government has seen 30 Lebanese ministers sworn in: 18 of them are from Hezbollah’s March 8 Alliance, while 12 are from the rival March 14 alliance, headed by Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

While Saad Hariri also said Lebanon would still be neutral in regional conflicts, he said Lebanese citizens have the right to “resist Israeli occupation and repel its aggression.”

Nevertheless, the United States applauded the development.

Lebanon is in urgent need of a government capable of installing economic reforms that are necessary to put its debt on a sustainable road, according to the International Monetary Fund.