Lebanon: US envoy Hochstein says war between Hezbollah and Israel can be avoided
US envoy Amos Hochstein said on Wednesday he believed an all-out war between Hezbollah and Israel was avoidable.
He insisted, however, that Israel and Hamas need to reach a peace agreement in Gaza without delay, as it would help to enable a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese armed group, has been engaged in cross-border clashes with Israel since 8 October, a day after the outbreak of the war on Gaza.
While the clashes remained contained to border areas for months, tensions have escalated in recent weeks.
After a rocket fell in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, killing 12 civilians, Israel accused Hezbollah of carrying out the attack, although the latter denied responsibility.
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Israel then proceeded to assassinate a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut in July.
Hochstein’s visit to Beirut is part of US efforts to prevent escalations, as the region anticipates a response from Hezbollah as well as retaliation by Iran for Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
“We continue to believe that a diplomatic resolution is achievable because we continue to believe that no one truly wants a full-scale war between Lebanon and Israel,” Hochstein said after his meeting with Berri.
On the prospects of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, the envoy said he and Berri “agreed there is no more time to waste and there's no more valid excuses from any party for any further delay”.
Hochstein is also due to meet Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
At least 547 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Lebanon since 8 October according to the Lebanese health ministry, mostly fighters but also scores of civilians.
In Israel, at least 19 soldiers and 24 civilians have been killed.
When asked by a reporter whether Israel and Hezbollah could avoid a war, Hochstein replied: "I hope so, I believe so."
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