Report: U.S. Decision to Distance Lebanon from Repercussions of Syria Strike
U.S. Ambassador David Hale, who assumed his mission in Beirut on Friday, informed Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati that there is an official decision to steer Lebanon clear of the repercussions of a possible military strike on Syria, An Nahar daily reported on Saturday.
The newspaper said that Hale told Miqati during a meeting they held at the Grand Serail that Washington has officially decided to distance Lebanon from the possible strike against Syria in response to the alleged chemical attack by the regime, which the U.S. administration said killed more than 1,400 people near Damascus.
He stressed that Lebanese airspace will not be used in the strike to prevent any repercussions on Lebanon, An Nahar added.
A statement issued by Miqati's press office Friday, said the diplomat called for isolating Lebanon from any repercussions of the possible military strike
He voiced his support for Lebanon's policy of disassociation. But criticized Hizbullah's participation in the fighting alongside the Syrian regime, which he said will only exacerbate problems for Lebanon.
The State Department on Friday ordered nonessential American diplomats and the families of staffers at the U.S. Embassy to leave Lebanon immediately due to security concerns as the Obama administration and Congress debate the military strikes on Syria.
The step had been under consideration since last week when President Barack Obama said he was contemplating military action against the Syrian government. The administration is concerned that such action may spark reprisal attacks on U.S. interests in the region.
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