U.S. envoy urges to de-escalate Lebanese-Israeli border tensions
In an effort to mitigate the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, special envoy Amos Hochstein visited Beirut on Tuesday to meet with Lebanese officials and urge a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
This comes after Hezbollah released footage of its drones flying over northern Israel and capturing sensitive military sites, including the Haifa port and other strategic locations.
The footage, which was released on Tuesday, appears to show Hezbollah’s drones flying unhindered over northern Israel, capturing shots of the Israeli Navy base, warships, and infrastructure belonging to the Navy’s submarine unit, Shayetet 7.
The footage also includes shots of the Iron Dome and David’s Sling air defense systems, as well as a residential neighborhood in nearby Kiryat Yam.
Hezbollah claimed that the drone returned to Lebanon uninterrupted after taking the sensitive shots.
The release of the footage has raised concerns about the escalating tensions in the region, with Israel responding by shooting down three suspected drones over the Western Galilee.
The IDF said it had carried out a series of strikes in southern Lebanon, targeting several Hezbollah operatives involved in launching drones.
The operatives were part of Hezbollah’s aerial forces unit, which the military said was behind dozens of explosive-laden drone attacks on northern Israel and other surveillance operations.
Despite the escalating tensions, Hochstein stressed the need for a quick and diplomatic resolution to the conflict. “It’s in everyone’s interest to resolve it quickly and diplomatically – that is both achievable and it is urgent,” he told reporters in Beirut.
Hochstein met with Lebanese officials, including parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, and discussed the need for de-escalation.
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The conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has been ongoing since October, with both sides exchanging fire and accusing each other of aggression.
The US and France have been engaged in efforts to prevent an all-out war, but Israel has said it will not hesitate to take military action if diplomacy fails.
Hezbollah has claimed that it has carried out over 2,100 military operations against Israel since October, and Israel has reported the deaths of 15 IDF soldiers and reservists, as well as 10 civilians.
The situation remains volatile, with both sides accusing each other of aggression and refusing to back down.
The international community is urging a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, but it remains to be seen whether a peaceful resolution can be achieved.
Hochstein’s visit is part of the US’s efforts to prevent an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, and his call for de-escalation is seen as a positive step towards a diplomatic resolution.
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