Daijiworld Media Network – Beirut
Beirut, Aug 28: A report claiming that US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa has received approval to meet with Hezbollah has been denied by a US official, amid heightened tensions between Washington, Israel and the Iran-backed group.
According to a Lebanese report published on Thursday, Issa had received the green light to hold talks with Hezbollah. However, a US official subsequently denied the report.
Issa himself had said on Wednesday that he was not currently engaged in talks with Hezbollah. He, however, indicated that he would be willing to speak with the organisation if it had something to offer.
The development comes days after the United States announced fresh sanctions against Hezbollah and updated the basis for its designation of the group as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organisation. The move highlighted Hezbollah's activities on behalf of Iran and under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force.
A US official clarified that the latest action did not place Hezbollah on a new sanctions list. The group had already been designated under the authority in 2001 and is also classified by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The updated designation seeks to more explicitly establish links between Hezbollah, Iran and the Quds Force.
The reports come amid growing Israeli concerns over Hezbollah's activities in southern Lebanon. Israel has conveyed to the United States that a pilot programme aimed at addressing Hezbollah's infrastructure in the region has failed.
Israeli officials have expressed dissatisfaction with the Lebanese Army's efforts against Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives, alleging that the army has not acted effectively on information and coordinates provided by Israel.
Senior Israeli Defence Forces officials have also alleged that Lebanese Army Commander Gen Rodolphe Haykal continues to cooperate with Hezbollah and is reluctant to confront commanders of the Shi'ite group in southern Lebanon.
Israel has further accused the Lebanese Army of failing to conduct effective searches, locate alleged militant infrastructure and uncover weapons caches.
The conflicting reports over possible US-Hezbollah contacts come at a time of increased diplomatic and security activity surrounding Lebanon, Hezbollah and Iran.