The United States reported this Tuesday (06/25/2024) that it is desperately seeking a diplomatic agreement that would restore calm on the border between Lebanon and Israel, adding that a war there would have catastrophic effects.
“We are urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that will restore lasting calm to Israel’s northern border and allow civilians to safely return to their homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border,” said US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, to his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant.
Both met at the Pentagon on the second day of Gallant’s visit to Washington, where the day before he spoke with the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and with the director of the CIA, Bill Burns.
Another conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah, according to Austin, “could easily turn into a regional war with dire consequences for the Middle East, so diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent further escalation.”
The Israeli Army, together with Hezbollah, has been involved in an escalation of violence on the border with Lebanon that has raised fears of an open war in recent weeks, after the conflict in Gaza triggered a daily exchange of fire on the dividing line on October 8. between both countries.
Austin said he was “extremely concerned about the increase in attacks” by pro-Iran militia and the spike in tensions. “Hezbollah’s rocket attacks mean more suffering for the more than 60,000 Israelis now displaced from their homes and for tens of thousands of displaced Lebanese. Their provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war they do not want,” he warned. .
The US Secretary of Defense stressed that his country will always support Israel in its right to self-defense, adding that this includes ensuring that Iran, “which is the source of much of the violence and instability in the region, can never obtain a weapon nuclear”.
Gallant stressed that although “they are working together to reach an agreement, they must also talk about preparation to face all possible scenarios.”
This is the second time Gallant has gone to the Pentagon since the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7.
(efe, afp/mn)
