Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met on Saturday with U.S. Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, fresh from Lebanon, to discuss that country’s future.
“Good meeting with @MorganOrtagus, President Trump’s deputy special envoy to the Middle East, who had just come from Lebanon. We were briefed by Major General Jasper Jeffers on the situation in Lebanon and discussed it and other regional issues,” tweeted Sa’ar.
Jeffers heads the monitoring committee overseeing the implementation of the Nov. 26 Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement.
“Following Israel’s achievements against Hezbollah there is an opportunity for a better future in Lebanon, and maybe even for better relations between our countries. Under President Trump’s leadership and Israel’s strength we are committed to working closely together to build a better future in the region,” Sa’ar added.
Ortagus met in Beirut on Feb. 6 with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Outrage by Shia Muslims in Lebanon, after the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun was pictured yesterday shaking the hand of Morgan Ortagus, Deputy U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, while she wore a ring bearing the Star of David. pic.twitter.com/qyNfvywl5c
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) February 8, 2025
She told them that Washington would not accept Hezbollah influence over the formation of Lebanon’s new government, and warned that Lebanon risks deep isolation and economic catastrophe unless it forms a government committed to reform and curbing the stranglehold of the Iranian-backed Shi’ite group, Reuters reported.
“It’s important for us to set the tone for what we believe a new Lebanon should look like going forward,” the report cited a senior U.S. administration official as saying.
“There was a war and Hezbollah was defeated, and they need to remain defeated,” the official added. “You don’t want somebody corrupt. It’s a new day for Lebanon. Hezbollah was defeated, and the new government needs to match that new reality.”
Lebanon formed its new government on Feb. 8 after more than two years of caretaker leadership.
Ortagus said on Feb. 7 that the United States viewed Hezbollah’s involvement in Lebanon’s new Cabinet as a “red line.”
All in a day’s work pic.twitter.com/te6uhkr2XR
— Morgan Ortagus (@MorganOrtagus) February 9, 2025
Similarly, U.S. House Reps. Darin LaHood and Darrell Issa, Republicans who co-chair the U.S.-Lebanon Friendship Caucus, wrote to U.S. President Donald Trump at the end of January that “Lebanon’s new government must not allow any members of Hezbollah, or their political party proxies, to serve in the new government.”
However, Berri, leader of Hezbollah-ally Amal, was allowed to choose four of the new Cabinet members, including Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, who has close ties to the Iranian proxy terror group.
This was despite Reuters reporting that the United States had conveyed a message to Prime Minister-designate Salam that it was not acceptable for Hezbollah or its allies “to enjoy the same privileges” it once had, including “obtaining sensitive ministries such as finance.”
After pummeling Hezbollah in the fall, including killing its longtime leader, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel struck a ceasefire deal with Lebanon and five mediating countries on Nov. 26.
On Jan. 26, the White House agreed to extend the U.S.-monitored arrangement until Feb. 18.
“The government of Lebanon, the government of Israel and the government of the United States will also begin negotiations for the return of Lebanese prisoners captured after Oct. 7, 2023,” the White House stated.
Brian Hughes, the spokesman for the U.S. National Security Council, said on Jan. 24 that a “short, temporary ceasefire extension” was “urgently needed.”
U.S. President Donald Trump “is committed to ensuring Israeli citizens can safely return to their homes in northern Israel,” while also supporting Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and the new Lebanese government, Hughes stated.
Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati confirmed that Beirut had agreed to the extension, saying the decision came following talks with consultations with President Joseph Aoun and Berri, a powerful Hezbollah ally.
Israel has made it clear it will actively monitor the ceasefire agreement. On Nov. 27, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said, “The activity in Lebanon was very determined, and the enforcement of the ceasefire agreement will be even more determined.”
This has not stopped Hezbollah from testing Israel.
The Israeli Air Force conducted precision strikes inside Lebanon overnight on Feb. 7, targeting two sites containing Hezbollah weapons in violation of the truce agreement.
“The IDF continues to operate to remove any threat to the State of Israel and will prevent any attempt by the Hezbollah terrorist organization to rebuild its forces, in accordance with the ceasefire understandings,” the IDF said.
On Feb. 3, Israeli forces dismantled Hezbollah infrastructure in Southern Lebanon, as part of the Israel Defense Forces’ ongoing defensive operations there, the military said.
Soldiers from the 769th and 7th brigades located weapons storage facilities containing what the IDF said were significant stockpiles of military equipment.
Additionally, Israeli forces killed several Hezbollah operatives in the area and detained individuals who posed a threat to their mission.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah on Feb. 2 to halt its violations of the ceasefire deal or risk destruction.
“I would like to send a clear message to Hezbollah and the Lebanese government,” the minister said in remarks following a visit to IDF troops in Southern Lebanon earlier in the day.
“Israel will not tolerate drone attacks from Lebanon,” Katz declared. “Either there will be no drones, or there will be no Hezbollah.
On Jan. 30, Hezbollah dispatched a surveillance drone, marking the first time since the ceasefire went into effect on Nov. 27 that the terrorist group sent an unmanned aerial vehicle into Israeli airspace.
In response, IAF jets struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, including an underground weapons site.
