Date: Jan 11, 2019
Source: The Daily Star
US won't accept Hezbollah as 'major presence' in Lebanon: Pompeo
Reuters
CAIRO/DUBAI: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday Hezbollah is a major presence in Lebanon, but the U.S. won’t accept this as the status quo.

Pompeo also described the United States was a "force for good" in the Middle East and remained committed to the "complete dismantling" of the Daesh (ISIS) threat despite its decision to withdraw troops from Syria.

"When America retreats, chaos follows," he said in a speech at the American University in Cairo in which he also urged Middle Eastern countries to do more to combat Daesh militants.

Iran's foreign minister mocked Pompeo's speech by asserting the opposite was true.

"Whenever/wherever US interferes, chaos, repression and resentment follow," Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter.

"The day Iran mimics US clients & @SecPompeo's 'human rights models' - be it the Shah or current butchers - to become a 'normal' country is the day hell freezes over. Best for the US to just get over loss of Iran."