US urges post-election Lebanon to uphold regional policy

BEIRUT – The United States urged Lebanon to uphold a policy of staying out of regional wars and a UN Security Council resolution that sought Hezbollah's disarmament, after the Iran-backed group and its allies won more than half the seats in Sunday's election.

The United States views Hezbollah as a terrorist group and is critical of its role in the Syrian conflict, but has given Lebanon substantial military support.

"As Lebanon looks ahead to forming a new government, we urge all parties to uphold Lebanon's international obligations, including those contained in U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701," the US Embassy in Beirut said in a statement.

The two resolutions relate to the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias including Hezbollah and the terms of a 2006 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Washington's close ally Israel.