Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Wednesday, July 9, 2025
    961
    Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok
    • Breaking News
    • Guides
    • Food & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Join the Team
    • Whatsapp
      • 961
      • 961 News
    Advertise with Us Get the App
    961
    Home»News»Lebanon News
    Hawar News Agency
    3 Mins Read

    US Ambassador Summoned By Lebanese Foreign Minister Over Hezbollah Comments

    By Christie K.June 29, 2020Updated:October 23, 2020
    Facebook WhatsApp Copy Link

    The incident around the US Ambassador to Lebanon and judge Mohammad Mazeh has sparked a storm of controversy, making the news locally and internationally.

    Judge Mazeh issued a decision against US Ambassador Dorothy Shea on the background of her recent interview with Al-Hadath TV, during which she responded to accusations by Hezbollah’s Secretary-General that Lebanon’s financial crisis is a plot by the United States.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-nqBcj1eu/

    She described the party as “a designated terrorist organization” and stated that her country has “grave concerns” about its role.

    “It has siphoned off billions of dollars that should have gone into government coffers so that the government can provide basic services to its people,” she said, adding that “it has obstructed some of the economic reforms the Lebanese economy so desperately needs.”

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Follow the Middle East (@middle_east_politics)

    Based on her statements, which judge Mazeh deemed “inciting” and “offensive to some Lebanese people,” he issued a ruling banning media outlets, local and foreign media working in Lebanon, from airing or publishing her comments.

    In order for his decision to take effect, however, “it must be adopted by the Ministry of Information,” Judge Mazeh told The Washington Post.

    Naharnet

    From her side, Information Minister Manal Abdel-Samad responded to the announcement of the judge’s decision, stating that “no one has the right to ban media from carrying news or limit its media freedom.”

    To note, Al-Hadath TV is not a Lebanese media platform. It is owned by the Saudi news media Al-Arabia and is based in Dubai, UAE.

    After her first response to the decision via MTV Lebanon, Ambassador Shea expressed via LBC Lebanon that the backlash she received was surprising, especially because “there was nothing new” in what she had stated.

    Speaking of the judge’s decision, she said that she received “assurances from the Lebanese government” in regard to this “inappropriate judgment.”

    “Trying to use an active judge or court decision to silence the media and to silence me, and to deny the Lebanese people freedom of expression and freedom of the media is ridiculous,” the ambassador added.

    However, despite her statement indicating that she has the Lebanese government on her side, she is now being summoned by the Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nassif Hitti for a meeting on Monday at 3:00 pm.

    The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Minister Hitti intends to raise the matter of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

    That law specifies that “an ambassador has no right to interfere in the internal affairs of another country and should not incite the [Lebanese] people against one another.”

    That stance was openly reflected by President Aoun on Sunday during an interview with Al-Mayadeen.

    “The Americans are directly interfering in the Lebanese domestic affairs; and this is unacceptable,” he said. The president went on to emphasize that Hezbollah “represents the Lebanese society and enjoys popularity among people,” reported AFP.

    Anwar Amro AFP | France 24

    According to the same source, Lebanon’s president “cautioned the US envoy over making more caustic remarks against the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.”

    Hezbollah
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email

    For You

    uae travel ban lebanon 961

    UAE Is Officially Removing The Travel Ban On Lebanon

    Joe Issa El-Khoury 961

    Who is Joe Issa El-Khoury, Lebanon’s New Minister of Industry

    Adel Nassar 961

    Who is Adel Nassar, Lebanon’s New Minister of Justice

    Nizar Hani 961

    Who is Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s New Minister of Agriculture

    Charles Hajj 961

    Who Is Charles Hajj, Lebanon’s New Minister of Telecommunications

    Nora Bayrakdarian 961

    Who is Nora Bayrakdarian, Lebanon’s New Minister of Youth and Sports

    lebanon jounieh cyprus by ferry 961

    You’ll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry

    20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Had Lebanese Roots

    April 22, 2019
    caracalla one thousand and one nights

    Caracalla Just Added More Dates For “One Thousand and One Nights” & You Def Don’t Want To Miss It!

    July 5, 2025

    Lebanon’s Shawarma Is Going Viral in The Philippines

    April 21, 2019
    Low-Cost Lebanese Airline 961

    We Might Finally Be Getting A Low-Cost Lebanese Airline – Here’s What We Know

    June 18, 2025
    Lebanese boutiques

    25 Boutiques In Lebanon To Find Your Dream Evening Dress This Wedding Season

    June 9, 2024

    20 Typical Lebanese Slang Expressions

    April 21, 2020
    lebanese beer brands almaza beirut beer 961

    Lebanese Beer Brands Are Publicly Throwing Shade, And It’s Getting Frothy

    June 7, 2025
    lebanon cybergames 2025 hacking 961

    Lebanon Just Won A Global Hacking Competition

    June 10, 2025
    DJ

    10 Lebanese DJs You Need To Check Out This Summer

    August 7, 2024
    961 Logo
    Facebook WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

    Popular Topics

    • Guides
    • Eat & Drink
    • Listicles
    • Lebanon News
    • Diaspora
    • Explained

    961

    • About
    • WhatsApp Channel
    • News WhatsApp Channel
    • Corrections Policy
    • Ownership & Funding

    Services

    • Advertise
    • Careers
    • App Waitlist
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
    961™ | All Rights Reserved ©2025
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Okay