Ortagus' visit came amid ongoing political negotiations, with Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam working to form a government.
The US is reportedly pressuring him to exclude Hezbollah, reinforcing Washington's longstanding stance against the Iran-backed group's role in Lebanese politics.
Following talks with Leb
...home of the original Hezbollah, which periodically starts a war with the Zionist Entity, gets Beirut pounded to rubble, and then declares victory and has a parade....'s President Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace, Ortagus made a pointed statement underscoring US support for Israel's operations against Hezbollah.
"We are grateful to our ally Israel for defeating Hezbollah," she said during a presser.
"It is thanks to President Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam and everyone in this government who is committed to an end to corruption— and making sure that Hezbollah is not a part of this government and remains disarmed and militarily defeated," she added.
Hezbollah was severely weakened in the war, with Israel assassinating its leadership, destroying much of its weapons stockpiles, and forcing the group out of southern Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement brokered by Ortagus' predecessor, Amos Hochstein.
In response to a question about Hezbollah's potential insistence on being in the government, Ortagus dismissed any concerns.
"I am certainly not afraid of Hezbollah," she said.
"We have set clear red lines in the United States that [Hezbollah] won't be able to terrorise the Lebanese people, and that includes by being a part of the government."
Hezbollah responded by accusing her of "blatant interference in Lebanese illusory sovereignty". The head of its parliamentary bloc, Mohammed Raad, denounced her comments as being "full of malice and irresponsibility".