US special envoy Amos Hochstein has stated in Beirut that the United States is actively developing a solution to conclusively resolve the conflict between Israel and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, asserting that simply adhering to a previous UN resolution will not suffice.
UN resolution 1701, which concluded the last round of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, mandates that southern Lebanon be devoid of any troops or weapons other than those belonging to the Lebanese state.
Nonetheless, the Iranian-backed Shia movement has not ceased its operations in the area.
Ongoing cross-border hostilities escalated when Hezbollah launched missile attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which had executed a violent attack in Israel from Gaza just over a year prior.
Mr. Hochstein, currently in Lebanon for the second time in a span of two months, is engaging in discussions with Lebanese officials as part of a renewed US mediation effort aimed at fostering peace in the Middle East following the recent elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar by Israel.
“Simply having both sides commit to (UN resolution) 1701 is insufficient,” Mr. Hochstein remarked at a press briefing.
While the resolution serves as a foundation for resolving the conflict, he emphasized that further steps are essential to ensure it is executed “fairly, accurately, and transparently.”
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“We are collaborating with the government of Lebanon, the state of Lebanon, and the government of Israel to establish a framework that will put an end to this conflict for good,” he stated.
Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah has sparked concerns of a wider regional confrontation involving Hezbollah’s backer, Iran.
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After what he described as a “very constructive” meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key ally of Hezbollah who has been actively involved in diplomatic endeavors to resolve the conflict, Mr. Hochstein conveyed: “The United States is determined to end this conflict as soon as possible. That is the goal of President Biden, and it is what we are all striving for.”
He stressed that linking Lebanon’s fate to other regional conflicts is not in Lebanon’s best interest, reiterating that the US aims to conclude the Israel-Hezbollah war “as soon as possible.”
“Connecting Lebanon’s future to other regional conflicts does not serve the interests of the Lebanese people,” Mr. Hochstein reiterated during a press conference after his discussions with Lebanon’s parliament speaker Nabih Berri, a Hezbollah ally, emphasizing the urgency of ending the conflict.
Israel carried out overnight strikes on locations in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Bekaa valley, which it claims are utilized by Hezbollah to fund its operations. Hundreds of families evacuated their homes near the targeted sites ahead of the attacks, with no casualties reported.
The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a branch of the Al-Qard Al-Hassan finance group in the eastern city of Baalbek in the Bekaa valley
According to Axios, Israel has reportedly handed the United States a document detailing its prerequisites for a diplomatic resolution to conclude the war in Lebanon, as cited by two US and two Israeli officials.
Israel has requested that its forces be permitted to engage in “active enforcement” to prevent Hezbollah from rearming and reconstructing its military capabilities close to the border, as reported by an Israeli official.
The report further noted that Israel seeks unrestricted operations for its air force within Lebanese airspace. A US official mentioned to Axios that it is quite improbable that Lebanon and the international community would consent to Israel’s stipulations.
Speaker Berri told Al-Arabiya over the weekend that he would oppose any modifications to United Nations resolution 1701.
Meanwhile, the US military has expedited its advanced anti-missile system to Israel, which is now “in place,” stated US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to Kyiv.
Mr. Austin refrained from confirming whether the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, is operational. However, he stated: “We have the capability to activate it very swiftly and are on track with our expectations.”
Smoke and flames are seen following an Israeli attack on Dahieh in Beirut.
The cross-border skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah reignited a year ago when the group commenced launching rockets in support of the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.
At the beginning of October, Israel initiated a ground assault inside Lebanon to stabilize the border region for its citizens who had fled from rocket attacks in northern Israel.
Israel has also targeted and eliminated prominent Hezbollah figures, including its veteran leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an airstrike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Efforts by the US and regional powers over the past year to establish a ceasefire in Gaza have been futile, leading Lebanese officials and numerous diplomats to remain doubtful regarding the potential for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
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Witnesses reported overnight seeing large plumes of black smoke rising after at least ten explosions in the suburbs of Beirut. Panicked crowds filled the streets, causing traffic congestion in various parts of the city as they attempted to reach neighborhoods believed to be safer, according to eyewitness accounts.
An eyewitness described how a building in the Chiyah neighborhood of Beirut’s southern suburbs was reduced to ruins. Fortunately, it was unoccupied at the time, resulting in no injuries.
An Israeli military spokesperson previously stated on social media platform X that they “will commence targeting infrastructure linked to the Hezbollah Al-Qard Al-Hassan Association – evacuate the area immediately.”
Al-Qard al-Hassan, which the US identifies as a financial management entity for the Iran-backed Hezbollah, operates over 30 branches across Lebanon, including 15 in densely populated areas of central Beirut and its suburbs.
Smoke billows above the town of Khiam in southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike.
No immediate response has been received from Hezbollah or the Lebanese government regarding the attacks.
When questioned by reporters about whether these branches could be considered military objectives, a senior Israeli intelligence official remarked: “The objective of this strike is to disrupt Hezbollah’s economic capabilities both during the conflict and in the future as they attempt to rebuild and rearm … for the days ahead.”
Israel has ramped up its military operations in both Gaza and Lebanon following the assassination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which raised hopes for a possible breakthrough in ceasefire discussions to conclude over a year of conflict.
With US elections on the horizon, officials, diplomats, and other sources in the region perceive that Israel is utilizing military actions to secure its borders and prevent adversaries from regrouping.
Israel is also preparing to retaliate for an Iranian missile strike earlier in the month, although Washington has urged it to refrain from targeting Iranian energy installations or nuclear sites.
According to Israeli reports, Hamas-led militants were responsible for the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the capture of 250 hostages during their assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Palestinian officials report that Israel’s military response in Gaza has resulted in over 42,500 fatalities, rendered most of the 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza homeless, and led to the destruction of much of the territory.
Over the past year, Lebanese officials estimate that more than 2,400 people have died and over 1.2 million have been displaced in Lebanon. In the same timeframe, Israeli authorities report that 59 individuals have been killed in northern Israel and the occupied Golan Heights.
