Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, has long been the country’s dominant political force and has formed part of the government for decades.

A senior US official visiting Beirut warned Friday against any Hezbollah presence in Lebanon's new government, saying the Iran-backed group was "defeated" in its war with Israel. "Hezbollah was defeated by Israel and we are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah,

A newly appointed U.S. envoy says she hopes Lebanese authorities are committed to making sure that the Hezbollah militant group is not a part of the new government in any form.

The Iran-backed Hezbollah movement should play no role in Lebanon's new government, the US special deputy envoy for the Middle East said on Friday. "We have set clear red lines in the United States that they (Hezbollah) won't be able to terrorize the Lebanese people,

The United States has set a "red line" that Shi'ite armed group Hezbollah should not be a member of Lebanon's next government after itr military defeat by Israel last year, U.S deputy Middle East envoy Morgan Ortagus said in Lebanon on Friday.

The U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace said repeatedly Friday that Hezbollah had been "militarily defeated" and that she hoped the Lebanese authorities were committed to ensuring the militant group doesn't form part of any new government.