Lebanon's Prime Minister Nawaf Salam formed a new cabinet made up of specialized and clean-handed ministers, ending past dominance by Hezbollah and its allies, with the mission of introducing needed reforms.

Hezbollah, a powerful Iran-backed militia, has long been the country’s dominant political force and has formed part of the government for decades.

The U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Middle East Peace said repeatedly Friday that Hezbollah had been "militarily defeated" and that she hoped the Lebanese authorities were committed to ensuring the militant group doesn't form part of any new government.