A newly appointed U.S. envoy said Friday that she hoped Lebanese authorities are committed to making sure that the Hezbollah militant group is not a part of the new government in any form. Morgan Ortagus,

Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, has long been the country’s dominant political force and has formed part of the government for decades.

The United States has demanded that Hezbollah must not be part of Lebanon’s government. Washington’s Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said on Friday after meeting Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun that she was “not afraid” of the armed group “because they’ve been defeated militarily”.

The United States has set a "red line" that Shi'ite armed group Hezbollah should not be a member of Lebanon's next government after itr military defeat by Israel last year, U.S deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said in Lebanon on Friday.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam meet at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Lebanon, in this handout released on February 6, 2025. Lebanese Presidency Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

The U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace said repeatedly Friday that Hezbollah had been "militarily defeated" and that she hoped the Lebanese authorities were committed to ensuring the militant group doesn't form part of any new government.

Morgan Ortagus is heading a delegation and set to arrive in Lebanon on Thursday night, the first such visit by Trump administration officials.