The newspaper "Nidaa al-Watan" reported: Outside the context of reassurances from the Aounist bloc to the American mediator giving "Hezbollah" the green light to conclude a maritime border agreement with Israel based on the coordinates of Line 23, the "party" unexpectedly launched a counter-offensive against the presidency and its political faction yesterday. It aimed at both the "mediator and non-mediator" in the demarcation file, forcefully hitting the negotiating table to clearly announce that its previous support for the "state's facade" was merely "accessories" of the previous negotiation phase. Today, however, necessities and developments necessitate that the state stands behind it... on the principle "when the original is present, the proxy is no longer needed."
In several directions, the shrapnel of the escalating position launched by "Hezbollah" through the voice of its parliamentary bloc leader, MP Mohammad Raad, flew around, particularly regarding his call for those working on the negotiation front to "pave the sea." Supporting circles noted that this call, "although it directly targets the American mediator Amos Hochstein, whom he described as a 'fox,' indirectly hits the efforts led by President Michel Aoun and "Free Patriotic Movement" leader Gibran Bassil to finalize the demarcation deal with Hochstein before the end of the term," especially since Raad was clear in "Hezbollah's" threat to keep gas "buried" in Lebanese waters "unless we exploit it as we wish."
While sources did not rule out that the course of "negotiations and side concessions" that Bassil is conducting with the American side regarding various files and entitlements may have provoked "Hezbollah," particularly after the "government's" condemnation of the Russian "invasion" of Ukraine, a position that Raad openly critiqued yesterday by stating it "responds to the mood of some Lebanese who favor the West." The same circles also did not exclude that "Hezbollah's" decision to seize the banner of "the demarcation" and abandon its previous alignment behind "what the state decides" could have cross-border escalation implications in light of the rapidly evolving developments on multiple regional and international fronts. They explained that the current "world war" ignited between Russia, China, and Iran on one side, and the United States, the European Union, and other countries on the other, is likely to impose new alignments and tactics in various arenas and files, especially concerning the resistance axis, which has begun holding its breath in anticipation of the outcomes and repercussions this war will yield, whether regarding the fate of Iranian nuclear negotiations or relating to the erosion of power and influence under the global tightening noose on Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, a strategic ally of Tehran and the biggest supporter of its nuclear ambitions and expansionist agenda in the region.
Meanwhile, in recent hours, a delegation from the US Treasury, led by the First Deputy Assistant Secretary for Terrorism Financing and Financial Crimes, Paul Ahern, visited Beirut where it held discussions with officials that included the Grand Serail, amidst noticeable secrecy about the objectives of the visit. However, informed sources confirmed that it falls within the framework of "activating joint coordination between the US administration and Lebanese authorities to combat money laundering operations and dry up sources of terrorism financing." They pointed out that "the Treasury delegation's visit, in itself, is not considered an indicator of the imminent issuance of a new package of sanctions against Lebanese figures and entities linked to corruption and 'Hezbollah,' but it naturally reflects Washington's determination to closely monitor this file with Lebanese officials and its resolve to not tolerate any delay from the Lebanese political, financial, and banking authorities in implementing US sanctions, particularly in the areas of corruption, terrorism, and undermining state authority." They also highlighted the significance of the Treasury delegation's visit to the Ministry of Interior yesterday to review the preparations underway for conducting the parliamentary elections as scheduled in May, sending a clear message that "the United States attaches paramount importance to this constitutional entitlement, including a non-direct threat to be ready to sanction any party working to obstruct the elections."
Concurrently, the head of the International Monetary Fund mission to Lebanon, Ernesto Ramirez, began his meetings in Beirut yesterday with a session with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, and is expected to meet today with Prime Minister Najib Mikati to learn about what the government has accomplished regarding reforms and the national recovery plan. Economic sources expressed their belief that the mission's goal is more akin to a "shaking of the stick at both Houses of Parliament and Ministers" to urge those concerned on the need to "stop wasting time and maneuvering, and immediately start translating practical steps towards the reforms required by the Fund and the international community," pointing out the "centrality of the legislative role in this area, especially concerning the approval of the capital control law and adopting a structural plan for debt and banks that prioritizes ensuring depositors' rights."
