The United States called on Tuesday Lebanon to respect its policy of disassociation from regional disputes, days after parliamentary elections were held in the country for the first time since 2009. Washington also called on Beirut to respect the United Nations Security Council resolution 1559 on “Hezbollah’s” disarmament. The United States views “Hezbollah” as a terrorist group and is critical of its role in the Syrian conflict, but has given Lebanon substantial military support. “As Lebanon looks ahead to forming a new government, we urge all parties to uphold Lebanon’s international obligations, including those contained in UN Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,” the US Embassy in Beirut said in a statement. The two resolutions relate to the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, the disarmament of all militias including “Hezbollah” and the terms of a 2006 ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The Lebanese policy of disassociation was declared in 2012 to keep the deeply divided state out of regional conflicts such as the war in neighboring Syria. Despite the policy, “Hezbollah” is heavily involved there, amid fierce criticism from its opponents in Lebanon. UN Security Council resolution 1559 issued in 2004 sought the withdrawal of foreign forces from Lebanon, chiefly Syrian troops that allowed for Syrian domination. The Syrian forces left in 2005 after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which is widely blamed on Damascus. After the parliamentary elections, Lebanon is set to form a new government. Consultations will be held between political blocs and the president over the appointment of a new prime minister. Current PM Saad Hariri is expected to retain his post. Talks will then shift to the new government’s ministerial statement, usually a contentious issue given sensitivities in dealing with the issue of “Hezbollah”, its arms and its intervention in Syria, in violation of the disassociation policy.