### Diplomatic Efforts Intensify to Resolve Lebanon’s Political Deadlock

As Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon have weakened many of Hezbollah’s senior figures, there is cautious optimism in Washington about the possibility of breaking Lebanon’s political stalemate and mitigating the escalating conflict. To advance these efforts, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone conversations on Friday with acting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and parliament speaker Nabhi Berri to discuss the importance of resolving the ongoing crisis.

Earlier in the week, Blinken engaged in discussions with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and France, focusing on how electing a new Lebanese president could potentially reduce tensions in the Middle East. The proposal aims to prompt Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from Israel’s northern border to the boundary outlined in the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.

“The Lebanese people have a strong interest in their government taking responsibility and shaping the country’s future,” Blinken stated to reporters in Laos. He emphasized that Lebanon’s presidency, which has been vacant for two years, is crucial for the nation. Blinken added that the Lebanese people should decide their future without external interference, whether from the United States, Israel, or any other regional actors.

Despite years of international efforts to end Lebanon's political gridlock, the country's power-sharing system continues to be prone to deadlock. The U.S. attributes the two-year presidential vacancy to Hezbollah’s unwillingness to compromise. Hezbollah, a major political entity in Lebanon, has resisted efforts to end the impasse, leading the group to back Sleiman Frangieh, a Christian politician. Meanwhile, Gen. Joseph Aoun, commander of the Lebanese army, is seen as Frangieh’s main competitor and is generally viewed favorably by the U.S.

U.S. officials, speaking anonymously, believe there may now be a window for progress due to the recent weakening of Hezbollah. However, opinions in Washington are divided; some argue that Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon’s political, military, and social sectors is too deep-rooted to diminish significantly. Despite these divisions, there is a consensus on the necessity to attempt a diplomatic push.

On his return from Laos, Blinken reiterated to Mikati and Berri the critical need to stabilize Lebanon’s political situation. Emphasizing America’s dedication to a diplomatic solution, he underscored the importance of implementing the U.N. resolution to allow civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border to return home. Blinken also called for the presidential vacancy to be filled democratically, reflecting the Lebanese people’s desire for stability and prosperity.

Over the past week, Blinken conveyed similar messages to officials from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and France. He reported a collective desire, especially among the Lebanese, for the state to assert itself and take responsibility for its citizens' welfare. Blinken is expected to attend an international conference on Lebanon, hosted by France later this month.

The U.N. resolution remains only partially enforced, with Israeli forces yet to fully withdraw from southern Lebanon as outlined. Ed Gabriel, president of the American Task Force on Lebanon, praised Gen. Aoun’s leadership of the Lebanese army, which he described as Lebanon's only fully functional institution. Gabriel emphasized the importance of Lebanon exercising its sovereign right to elect a president without external interference, urging Lebanese parliamentarians to elect a capable and reform-minded leader to navigate the country through this critical phase.