White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday mentioned considerations of an all-out warfare within the Middle East are “exaggerated” and diplomatic conversations proceed to scale back tensions between Israel and Lebanese group Hezbollah after a lethal assault within the occupied Golan Heights.
“We’ve all heard about this all-out war scenario now multiple points over the last 10 months, those predictions were exaggerated then. Quite frankly, we think they’re exaggerated now,” Kirby informed reporters.
Stressing that Israel has “every right to respond” to Hezbollah, Kirby mentioned, including: “Nobody wants a broader war, and I’m confident that we’ll be able to avoid such an outcome.”
“We continue these diplomatic conversations with both sides, and we will try to reduce the tensions and to allow for families, both Israeli and Lebanese families, to move back into their homes where they want to be and where they belong,” he mentioned.
While change of border fireplace between Israel and Hezbollah continues for the reason that Gaza battle in October, fears of an all-out warfare have not too long ago grown, particularly after Saturday’s assault within the city of Majdal Shams that killed 12 folks.
Kirby added that the conversations with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his staff final week in Washington had been “very constructive” and nothing discouraged the U.S. to shut the remaining gaps concerning the Gaza cease-fire deal. Israel has killed greater than 39,000 Palestinians in Gaza since a cross-border assault by Hamas. Talks for a cease-fire proceed via mediators the U.S., Qatar and Egypt.
“There are teams that work right now trying to close these gaps, and I think it’s important that we give them the time and the space to do that in a way that doesn’t make it harder. So again, we believe the gaps can be narrowed,” he mentioned.
Asked in regards to the U.S. coverage on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which is an internally acknowledged Syrian territory however was acknowledged as Israeli territory by the Trump administration in 2019, Kirby responded: “Our policy on the Golan Heights has not changed under this administration.”
On a gathering between Vice President Kamala Harris and Netanyahu final week, Kirby mentioned there was “no daylight” between something President Joe Biden and Harris informed the Israeli premier.
According to Kirby, it was “same points, same emphasis, same commitment and reaffirmation to help Israel continue to defend itself against these threats, same reaffirmation by both the president and the vice president that we want to see the cease-fire deal get enacted.”
“I honestly think there was some unfortunate and inaccurate reporting about any difference between the president and the vice president here on Israel,” he added.
Source: www.anews.com.tr