The prime U.S. diplomat claimed good progress has been made towards a cease-fire in Lebanon after negotiators held discussions Thursday.
“Based on my recent trip to the region, and the work that’s ongoing right now, we have made good progress on those understandings,” Blinken informed reporters.
“It’s important to make sure we have clarity, both from Lebanon and from Israel, about what would be required under 1701 to get its effective implementation,” Blinken mentioned.
He mentioned that Washington was “working very hard” on concluding preparations on a deal that would come with the withdrawal of Hezbollah from the border area with Israel.
“We still have more work to do,” he mentioned, calling for a “diplomatic resolution, including through a cease-fire.”
Two senior U.S. officers, Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, met Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who mentioned that any deal on Lebanon should assure Israel’s safety. Hochstein additionally held talks with Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
Unlike within the year-old warfare in Gaza, the United States has stopped in need of calling for a right away cease-fire in Lebanon and has largely backed Israeli strikes in opposition to Hezbollah.
Blinken known as once more for the implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, courting from 2006, which requires the disarmament of non-state teams in Lebanon and a full Israeli withdrawal from the nation.
“It’s important to make sure that we have clarity, both from Lebanon and from Israel, about what would be required under 1701 to get its effective implementation – the withdrawal of Hezbollah forces from the border, the deployment of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the authorities under which they’d be acting, an appropriate enforcement mechanism,” Blinken mentioned.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, talking alongside Blinken and their South Korean counterparts, mentioned there was an “opportunity” in Lebanon.
“We’re hopeful that we will see things transition in Lebanon in a not too distant future,” Austin mentioned.
Source: www.dailysabah.com