Recent shelling on Israel’s northern border has led to the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from both sides of the frontier, raising fears of an all-out Israel-Hezbollah war.
“Hezbollah’s provocations threaten to drag the Israeli and Lebanese people into a war that they do not want. Such a war would be a catastrophe for Lebanon and devastating for innocent Israeli and Lebanese civilians,” Austin said on Tuesday, at the start of his meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon.
“Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent further escalation. We are urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israel’s northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border,” he added.
Israel’s national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi stated that Israel would spend the coming weeks attempting to resolve the conflict with Lebanon’s Iran-backed, heavily armed Hezbollah group and expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution.
Hanegbi mentioned that Israel had been discussing with US officials the possibility that the expected end of Israel’s intense military offensive in Gaza could pave the way for an “arrangement” with Hezbollah.
At the Pentagon, Gallant said he would discuss military readiness with Austin. “We are working closely together to achieve an agreement, but we must also discuss readiness for every possible scenario,” Gallant said.
