US withholding $105 million in security aid for Lebanon: Report

USPresident Donald Trump's administration iswithholding$105millioninsecurityaidforLebanon, two USofficials saidon Thursday, two days after the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

The State Department told Congress on Thursday that the White House budget office and NationalSecurityCouncil had decided to withhold the foreign military assistance, the two officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The officials did not say why theaidwas blocked. One of thesourcessaidthe State Department did not give Congress a reason for the decision.

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The State Department declined to comment.

The administration had sought approval for the assistance starting in May, arguing that it was crucial forLebanon, an important USpartner in the volatile Middle East, to be able to protect its borders. Theaidincluded night vision goggles and weaponsused in bordersecurity.

But Washington has also repeatedly expressed concern over the growing role in the Beirut government of Hezbollah, the armed Shi'ite group backed by Iran and listed as a terrorist organization by the United States.

Following Hariri's resignation on Tuesday amid huge protests against the ruling elite, USSecretary of State Mike Pompeo urgedLebanon's political leaders to help form a new government responsive to the needs of its people and called for an end to endemic corruption.

One USofficial told Reuters he believed thesecurityassistance was necessary forLebanon, as it struggles with instability not just within its own government but in a turbulent region and houses thousands of refugees from war in neighbouring Syria.

The official saidit was especially important to strengthenLebanon's military, which he deemed one of the most capable institutions in the country now, largely because of support from Washington.

The official saiddrawingaidaway fromLebanoncould pave the way for Russia to move in. Russia has expanded its influence in Syria since Trump announced he was withdrawing USforces from the northeastern part of the country.

Lebanonhas been arguing with foreign donors over internationalaidfor months. Before he resigned, Hariri failed to convince foreign donors to release $11 billion in assistance pledged at a Paris conference last year.