The U.S. will proceed to assist diplomacy to keep away from escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department mentioned Tuesday.
“We have been in continuous discussions with Israeli and Lebanese counterparts since the incident over the weekend, and the United States is going to continue to support efforts to reach a diplomatic solution along the Blue Line,” deputy spokesman Vedant Patel instructed reporters.
The Blue Line demarcates Israel from Lebanon and the Golan Heights.
His remarks got here after Israel mentioned it carried out a strike in Beirut on Tuesday towards the Lebanese group’s commander it mentioned was liable for a strike within the city of Druze in Majdal Shams in Israel-occupied Golan Heights that killed 12 youngsters Saturday.
“We’re continuing to work toward a diplomatic resolution that would allow Israeli and Lebanese civilians to return to their homes and live in peace and security. We certainly want to avoid any kind of escalation, and that is exactly why we continue to remain so deeply focused on diplomacy,” mentioned Patel.
Stressing that diplomacy is “the best path forward,” he added: “We think that is the best way right now to calm tensions along the Blue Line and to create conditions that will allow civilians to return home.”
‘U.S. DOES NOT BELIEVE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL, HEZBOLLAH IS INEVITABLE’
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre instructed reporters that the U.S. doesn’t imagine that an “all-out war is inevitable.”
“We believe that it can still be avoided,” she mentioned, including that the U.S. doesn’t need to see an escalation.
“We need to work and concentrate on getting that diplomatic answer alongside the Blue Line and that’s vital.
“We want to see these attacks from Hezbollah end and for all Israelis and also Lebanese citizens on both sides of the border to be able to return home,” mentioned Jean-Pierre.
Israel blamed Hezbollah for Saturday’s assault however the Lebanese group denied any accountability.
There has been no remark from Hezbollah on Tuesday’s assault.
Fears have grown a couple of full-blown struggle between Israel and Hezbollah amid an alternate of cross-border assaults between the 2 sides.
The escalation comes towards the backdrop of a lethal Israeli onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed greater than 39,300 victims since October, following an assault by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
Source: www.anews.com.tr