The Trump administration is worried humanitarian aid for Lebanon will end up in the hands of U.S.-designated terror group Hezbollah if routed through the government in Beirut, according to senior U.S. officials. U.S. officials say Lebanon’s latest crisis hasn’t changed their opposition to a multibillion-dollar bailout the government was seeking from the International Monetary Fund to rescue its flailing economy. But as the U.S. attempts to use the current political crisis to curb Hezbollah’s control over the country, some officials say humanitarian aid and financing is not only vital to meeting the needs of the Lebanese people, but also supporting its diplomatic goals. That aid is especially important to help balance out sanctions the administration is considering levying in an attempt to spur long-needed policy reforms. Meanwhile, the Maduro regime’s military last year blocked attempts by the U.S. to provide its own aid to Venezuelans.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 26, 2020 09:33 UTC