I strongly condemn Hizballah's recent efforts, and those of their
foreign sponsors in Tehran and Damascus, to use violence and
intimidation to bend the government and people of Lebanon to their will.
The United States will continue to firmly support the Government of
Lebanon, led by Prime Minister Siniora, against this effort to undermine
the hard-fought gains in sovereignty and independence the Lebanese
people have made in recent years. The international community will not
allow the Iranian and Syrian regimes, via their proxies, to return
Lebanon to foreign domination and control. To ensure the safety and
security of the people of Lebanon, the United States will continue its
assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces to ensure they are able to
defend the Lebanese Government and safeguard its institutions.
It is critical that the international community come together to assist
the Lebanese people in their hour of need. I plan to consult with
regional leaders on my upcoming trip to the Middle East to coordinate
efforts to support the Lebanese Government and implement U.N. Security
Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701, among others, which seek to bolster
Lebanon's sovereignty against external efforts at destabilization and
interference. The Lebanese people have sacrificed much for the sake of
their freedom, and the United State s will continue to stand with them
against this latest assault on their independence and security.
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