Hezbollah’s Raad blasts US official for ‘blatant interference’

The head of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc, Mohammad Raad, strongly criticized remarks made by visiting U.S. official Morgan Ortagus on Friday, calling them an unacceptable interference in Lebanon’s internal affairs.

Raad described Ortagus’s statement as malicious and irresponsible, arguing that it directly targeted a fundamental part of Lebanon’s political structure. He accused the U.S. of blatant interference in the country’s sovereignty, rejecting Washington’s stance on Hezbollah’s involvement in Lebanon’s next government.

During her visit, Ortagus had stated that the U.S. considered Hezbollah’s participation in the government a red line. She also declared that Hezbollah had been defeated by Israel, expressing gratitude to Washington’s ally for its role in weakening the group.

In response to these comments, a small group of Hezbollah supporters took to the streets in protest. Waving Hezbollah’s yellow flags, they set tires on fire, blocking access to Beirut’s international airport. Some demonstrators spray-painted the Star of David alongside the words “USA” and “Trump” on the road, encouraging pedestrians and vehicles to trample over them.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s presidency distanced itself from Ortagus’s statements, issuing a response on X. The statement clarified that her remarks represented her personal views and that the presidency did not endorse them.

A widely circulated photo from her meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun added further controversy, as it showed Ortagus shaking hands with Aoun while wearing a ring featuring the Star of David, fueling discussions on social media.

Another strong reaction came from Jaafari Mufti Sheikh Ahmad Qabalan, a senior Shiite cleric and close ally of Hezbollah. In his statement, he reaffirmed Hezbollah’s role as a legitimate national and representative force in Lebanon. He dismissed claims that Hezbollah had been defeated and insisted that no power on earth could eliminate the group.

Qabalan emphasized that Lebanon’s sovereignty belongs exclusively to its people and national institutions, not to external forces or what he called America’s exclusionary and destructive policies. He warned that forming a government without Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, would push Lebanon into further instability and uncertainty.