(Washington, DC) - Congressman Gary L. Ackerman (D-Queens / Long Island), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, issued the following statement today on the situation in Lebanon:

“At this moment of tension and great concern for the future of Lebanon, I want to express my strong support for the democratically-elected and legitimate government of Lebanon, and for its efforts to fully restore the sovereignty and independence of that country. To the brave men and women defending Lebanon’s freedom I want to assure them that their friends have not forgotten them, nor will we abandon them.

“Just as Hezbollah sucked Lebanon into its conflict with Israel in 2006, they now seem intent on sucking the Lebanese people into their conflict with the Lebanese state.

“The United States, and all decent nations must continue to support the Government of Lebanon in its struggle to save Lebanon from the depredations of Iran, Syria, and their Lebanese proxies. Justice must be done for those recently and unjustly killed, as well as for all those Lebanese murdered for their support of Lebanese sovereignty going back to the assassination of former Prime Minister Hariri. There will be no deal on the Special Tribunal.

“You either believe that Lebanon is an independent and sovereign state, that is to be governed by, and for, the Lebanese alone, or you don’t. The overwhelming majority of Lebanese—whether they are Sunni, Shia, Maronite, Orthodox, Druse or any other group—believe in this principle. The entire international community, with the reprehensible exceptions of Syria and Iran, believes in this principle. The United States certainly believes in it. Only Hezbollah, Amal and the delusional Aounists do not. And that is why Lebanon is suffering as it is.” 

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