US Has No Interest In Establishing Military Base In Lebanon - Senior State Dept. Official

The United States has no interest in establishing a military base in Lebanon, a senior US Department of State official said during a conference call on Friday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th March, 2019) The United States has no interest in establishing a military base in Lebanon, a senior US Department of State official said during a conference call on Friday.

"No, the United States is not pursuing a base of any kind in Lebanon," the State Department official said when asked if the United States was interested in establishing a military base in northern Lebanon.

The State Department official explained US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Beirut next week where he will meet with Lebanese officials, including President Michael Aoun, to discuss mutual concerns over Hezbollah and Iran's influence in the region.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah is a paramilitary and political organization originating in Lebanon's Shiite population whose initial aim was to end Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon. Hezbollah's military wing is also currently active in Syria, where the organization is fighting on behalf of the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad.

Earlier on Friday, the State Department announced Pompeo would travel to Lebanon, Israel and Kuwait from March 19-23 for discussions on a range of issues, including talks with Israeli, Cypriot and Greek leaders on energy and security issues in the Mediterranean.