Report: No positivity expected after Ortagus' visit

The initial outcome of the meetings and talks of the past 48 hours indicates that Lebanon will face a wave of political pressures and increased Israeli attacks, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Thursday.

U.S. envoy Morgan Ortagus’ visit to Lebanon “did not carry anything new as to expecting any change in the Israeli behavior,” sources in contact with the U.S. capital told the daily.

Ortagus told the Lebanese official she met with that “Lebanon has not honored what President Joseph Aoun and PM Nawaf Salam have pledged” and that “the Lebanese Army is not doing everything in its capacity to disarm Hezbollah,” the sources said.

“Although Ortagus urged against counting on the arrival of the new U.S. ambassador, noting that he lacks a sufficient political expertise, she emphasized that the U.S. concern today is focused on convincing Lebanon that direct negotiations with Israel represent the best gateway for addressing the pending files,” the sources added.