US Calls for Avoiding Prolonged Israeli Campaign in Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Talks
The United States has expressed concerns over a prolonged Israeli military campaign in Lebanon, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating on Thursday that Washington does not want to see the conflict extended. This comes as efforts are underway to resume talks over a ceasefire and a potential hostage deal in Gaza.
One month into Israel’s military offensive against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in Lebanon, Blinken emphasized the importance of preventing further escalation. He noted that he hopes Iran understands that additional attacks on Israel could jeopardize its own interests. Israel has vowed retaliation for an Iranian missile barrage on October 1.
Israel’s military chief, Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, indicated that an end to the conflict with Hezbollah might be in sight but provided limited details. On Thursday evening, multiple Israeli strikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to Reuters witnesses.
In diplomatic developments, U.S. and Israeli negotiators are set to meet in Doha to prepare for renewed discussions on a Gaza ceasefire, which would include the release of hostages held in the Palestinian enclave. Qatar and Washington confirmed the upcoming talks.
Israel announced that David Barnea, head of the Mossad intelligence agency, will travel to Doha on Sunday to attempt to restart negotiations. He is scheduled to meet with CIA Director William Burns and Qatar’s prime minister.
“The parties will discuss the various options for starting negotiations for the release of the hostages from Hamas captivity, against the backdrop of the latest developments,” stated the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
An Egyptian security delegation also met with a delegation of Hamas leaders in Cairo as part of efforts to resume ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, reported Egypt’s state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.
Hamas senior official Osama Hamdan told Lebanese pro-Iranian TV channel Al Mayadeen that there was no change in the group’s stance. “The hostages held by the resistance will only return by stopping the aggression and completely withdrawing,” Hamdan said.
Previous attempts to reach a ceasefire and secure the release of hostages in Gaza have been unsuccessful.
Blinken, who met with Qatar’s prime minister, is on his first trip to the region since Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, considered a mastermind behind the group’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The attack has intensified conflicts across the Middle East. The United States, a close ally of Israel, has expressed hope that Sinwar’s death could pave the way toward ending the fighting.
Israel initiated its offensive in Lebanon with the stated goal of securing the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated from homes in northern Israel due to a year of cross-border hostilities with Hezbollah.
The Israeli military has conducted airstrikes targeting southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the Bekaa Valley. Ground forces have also been deployed near the border. Lebanese authorities report that the campaign has resulted in over 2,500 deaths and displaced more than one million people, leading to a humanitarian crisis.
“As Israel conducts operations to remove the threat to Israel and its people along the border with Lebanon, we have been very clear that this cannot lead, should not lead, to a protracted campaign,” Blinken stated in Doha.
He added that the U.S. is working on a diplomatic solution that would allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes.
Later, Lieutenant General Halevi expressed optimism about concluding the conflict with Hezbollah. “In the north, there’s a possibility of reaching a sharp conclusion. We thoroughly dismantled Hezbollah’s senior chain of command,” he said in a video statement.
Blinken also urged Israel to take steps to avoid civilian casualties and to ensure the safety of UN peacekeepers and Lebanese army troops.
Earlier on Thursday, an Israeli strike reportedly killed three Lebanese soldiers attempting to evacuate wounded individuals from the border village of Yater, according to the Lebanese army. The Israeli military did not comment on the incident.
The Lebanese army’s presence in the south, where Hezbollah holds significant influence, is considered crucial for any diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
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Israeli campaign in Lebanon continues amid ceasefire efforts
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