US deputy special envoy meets Lebanon's Prime Minister, parliament speaker

U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East, Morgan Ortagus, conducted a series of meetings with Lebanese leaders, including President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, and Parliament Speaker.

During these discussions, Ortagus emphasized the U.S. position that Hezbollah should not be part of Lebanon's forthcoming government, labeling such inclusion as a "red line." ​Ortagus also addressed the issue of Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.

Both Prime Minister Mikati and Speaker called for Israel's withdrawal from the region, citing ongoing violations of UN Resolution 1701. Ortagus reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to the February 18 deadline for Israeli redeployment, underscoring the importance of this timeline. ​