Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated that Israel has “effectively lost sovereignty” in its north due to Hezbollah attacks launched from southern Lebanon, leading to a significant displacement of the population in the region. The escalating border fire between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militants has raised concerns about the risk of a larger regional conflict alongside the ongoing situation in Gaza.
In an effort to defuse the tension, senior White House official Amos Hochstein has traveled to Paris for talks on resolving the border conflict. The White House has been working to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, as recent exchanges of cross-border fire have intensified.
Despite the growing fears of a war between the two parties, Firas Maksad of the Middle East Institute believes there is still room for a diplomatic solution. Hochstein’s trip to Paris is seen as an opportunity to explore potential resolutions to the conflict.
Blinken noted that while key actors like Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran may not be seeking a war, the clashes could escalate to that point. The U.S. officials are concerned about being dragged into a conflict to defend Israel.
Efforts to reach a cease-fire in Gaza are seen as crucial in preventing further escalation, with Hezbollah indicating that it would stop firing into Israel if such an agreement is reached. Hochstein has been engaging with Israeli and Lebanese officials, aiming to negotiate a pullback of Hezbollah forces from the border. A potential agreement could involve Israeli withdrawal from disputed border areas and economic assistance for southern Lebanon.
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