Tuesday, February 18, 2025

U.S. seeks to avoid ‘greater war’ along Lebanon-Israel border

Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel on October 8, a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel, sparking the Gaza war.

• June 18, 2024
HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS (credit: council on foreign relations)
HEZBOLLAH MILITANTS (credit: council on foreign relations)

The United States is trying to avert a greater war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement, U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein said on Tuesday.

He spoke in the wake of an escalation in cross-border fire between the foes along Lebanon’s southern frontier.

Iran-backed Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel for the last eight months in parallel with the Gaza war.

Last week, the group fired the largest volleys of rockets and drones of the hostilities so far at Israeli military sites after an Israeli strike killed the most senior commander yet.

Mr Hochstein, special envoy to U.S. President Joe Biden, said he had been dispatched to Lebanon immediately following a brief trip to Israel because the situation was “serious.”

“We have seen an escalation over the last few weeks. And what President Biden wants to do is avoid a further escalation to a greater war,” Mr Hochstein said on Tuesday.

He had met the head of Lebanon’s army earlier on Tuesday and spoke to reporters following a meeting with parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the armed Amal movement, which is allied to Hezbollah and has also fired rockets on Israel.

The U.S. and France are engaged in diplomatic efforts to secure a negotiated end to the hostilities along Lebanon’s border.

Hezbollah says it will not halt its attacks unless there is a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

“Whether diplomatically or militarily one way or another, we will ensure the safe and secure return of Israelis to their homes in northern Israel. That is not up for negotiation. October 7 cannot happen again anywhere in Israel or on any of Israel’s borders,” Israeli government spokesman David Mencer said.

He added that Israel was “impeding Hezbollah’s military buildup and their stockpiling of weapons for terror against Israelis.”

Hezbollah began trading fire with Israel on October 8, a day after its Palestinian ally Hamas attacked southern Israel, sparking the Gaza war.

Tens of thousands of people have fled both sides of the border.

Hochstein urged Hamas to accept a U.S.-backed proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, which he said “also provides an opportunity to end the conflict across the Blue Line,” a reference to a demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel where parts of the international border are disputed.

Mr Hochstein met caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, who told him that “Lebanon does not seek escalation”, according to comments issued by Mr Mikati’s office.

The increase in attacks last week was followed by a brief respite during the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday, which concludes on Tuesday.

Hezbollah announced a drone attack against an Israeli tank on Tuesday afternoon – its first announced attack since Saturday.

The group used more of its extensive arsenal against Israel last week, prompting United Nations officials in Lebanon to warn over the weekend that the “danger of miscalculation leading to a sudden and wider conflict is very real.”

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said on Tuesday that he, too, was worried about the escalation and called “for a cessation of hostilities and for actors with influence to take all possible measures to avert a full-scale war.”

(Reuters/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

Abubakar Kyari

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Edo House of Assembly

Hot news Home top

Edo assembly approves death sentence for kidnappers

The lawmakers amended the existing law 2013, which recommended life imprisonment and confiscation of property linked to kidnapping.

Nuhu Ribadu

NationWide

NSA hands over 59 rescued kidnap victims to Kaduna govt

Mr Ribadu commended the security forces led by the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

World

Putin considers peace talks with Ukrainian president

Mr Zelensky recently said that he was willing to talk to Mr Putin.

ISWAP

NationWide

789 ex-terrorists undergoing de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration: CDS

The CDS stated that more than 120,000 insurgents and their families had surrendered since the inception of the programme.

LEGISLATIVE GAVEL

States

Police arraign electrician over alleged theft of water pumping machine

Mr Osho said that the defendant conspired with a scavenger, and stole his water pumping machine, valued N850,000.

APC and PDP LOGO

States

Police say six died in Osun LG crisis, sue for peace

Ms Opalola said that several people also sustained injuries during the crisis.