[AnNahar] Washington has reportedly begun "tough" measures for Lebanese wishing to travel to the United States, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat reported on Wednesday.
Quoting ministerial sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the daily said the US Consulate in Beirut, which reports directly to the Department of Homeland Security, began to enjoy broad powers in terms of refusing renewal of US entry visas for some Lebanese and revoking entry visas for others before it expires.
The sources affirmed that the Consulate had refrained from giving entry permits or renewing them to a number of Lebanese deputies.
"Pro- Hizbullah
...Party of God , a Leb militia inspired, founded, funded and directed by Iran. Hizbullah refers to itself as The Resistance and purports to defend Leb against Israel, with whom it has started and lost one disastrous war to date, though it did claim victory...
Health Minister Jamil Jibaq, was not the only one who could not renew the entry permit to be part of the delegation accompanying President Michel Aoun
...president of Leb, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
to New York," they said.
"Even individuals with valid entry visas must contact the US Consulate in Beirut to ascertain they are still entitled to travel and that their visas are not cancelled," they added.
"Such measures also apply to Lebanese who have Europe
 ...the land mass occupying the space between the English Channel and the Urals, also known as Moslem Lebensraum...
an citizenship (with Visa Waiver Program- VWP)," said the sources, noting that some "Lebanese with European nationalities had to return to the place where they traveled from upon arrival at US airports."
Lebanese officials brought that issue with US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker during his recent visit to Beirut, the sources said. But Schenker said the Secretary of State is not to blame for the measures. 
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