$ 105m in aid was frozen from June • The government sought to condone the budget in Lebanon's military operation against Hezbollah, but finally the aid was returned without explanation
A Trump administration official has confirmed that the U.S. recently released $ 105 million in military aid to the Lebanese military after being detained from June.
Republican officials, including Senator Ted Cruz, have sought to condone aid in the more vigorous Lebanese military action against Hezbollah, whose supporters have been violently confronting the country's protesters in recent weeks. However, no progress seems to have been made, and the US government has not provided explanations for the aid freeze, as well as its resumption, even though the Trump administration is concerned about Hezbollah's weight in Lebanon's military and political leadership.
More on:
• Lebanon: "US conditional on military aid in confrontation with Hezbollah"
• Lebanon: record number of protestors in Beirut
• "America Affects Lebanese Politicians"
• US government official: "Rejects Israel's request to delay aid to Lebanon"
According to estimates in Washington, aid was returned after the US administration feared greater influence in Russia's and Iran's Lebanon, which de facto controlled Syria - Lebanon's neighbor - and therefore decided to renew aid to the Lebanese army. Another concern was the leaking of Daash and al-Qaeda to northern Lebanon, after being pushed out of their control zones in Syria.