Skip to main content

Hezbollah Says External Pressures Forced the Mikati Resignation

Sources close to Hezbollah consider the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Mikati to be the result of pressure from outisde powers, writes Nasser Chararah.
Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati gestures before delivering a news conference at the Grand Serail, the government headquarters in Beirut, March 22, 2013. Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced his resignation on Friday after Shi'ite group Hezbollah and its allies blocked the creation of a body to supervise parliamentary elections and opposed extending the term of a senior security official. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FCDT
Read in 

Hezbollah is about to adopt a strict policy regarding the topics to be discussed at the negotiating table in order to reach an internal consensus to end the crisis that has plagued Lebanon since last year. There is a conviction within the party that Washington has taken a decision to place political pressure on Hezbollah in order to weaken its position within the power equation in Lebanon and tighten the regional and international siege on it.

Amid these developments came the surprise resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, with the aim of leaving Hezbollah outside the legitimacy of the state in Lebanon, as a prelude to depriving it of any internal support in the face of the US pressures, which are expected to escalate, according to a source close to the party.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.