Middle East - Search for a political solution to the Lebanon conflict
During the USA's efforts to explore ways to avoid a war between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hisbollah militia in Lebanon, the mutual shooting between the parties continues for now. In response to renewed attacks on territories in northern Israel, the Israeli Air Force attacked positions of the Hisbollah in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli army announced late on Friday evening. It is feared that a potential war could expand into a regional conflict, involving the USA and Iran. The Iranian UN mission in New York warned on Saturday morning on the platform X, if Israel initiates a comprehensive military aggression against Lebanon, "it will lead to a devastating war."
Israel's Defense Minister: We are not for war
Israel, according to Defense Minister Joav Galant's words, does not want war, but sees its army prepared. "We are working on a political solution. That's always the better one," Galant said on Friday during a troop visit near Israel's border with Lebanon, as reported by Israeli media. "We are not for war, but are prepared." If the Hisbollah chooses war, "we know what to do," he added. "If they choose peace, we will respond accordingly." The Shia militia in Lebanon declared again and again that Israel must first completely end the war in the Gaza Strip against the Hamas, which is allied with the Hisbollah, before it stops attacking Israel. The Hisbollah and Hamas are allies of Iran.
All options, "including the full participation of all (anti-Israeli) resistance fronts," were mentioned in the warning of the Iranian UN mission regarding a war. On Saturday, the first results of the presidential election in the country are expected. The election of a successor for the recently killed President Ebrahim Raisi is taking place against the backdrop of a severe economic crisis, tensions with the West, frustration over state power and government, as well as the conflict in Lebanon between Israel and the pro-Iranian Hisbollah.
Report: USA exploring options for political solution
While the USA sees a ceasefire in the Gaza War as an important step towards resolving the crisis in Lebanon, officials have begun to explore alternatives for de-escalation, reported the "Washington Post" on Friday (local time). Israel was allegedly pressured to not be the party that escalates the conflict in Lebanon. In drafts for an agreement, the Hisbollah was asked to withdraw heavy weapons from the border with Israel, while in return, funds for reconstruction in Lebanon were offered. The Hisbollah militia continued to negotiate with Washington through Lebanese intermediaries despite ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip.
Catal, who has been mediating between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza War with the USA and Egypt, has been asked by the United States to be of help in resolving the conflict in Lebanon, according to a person familiar with the efforts. Since the beginning of the Gaza War almost nine months ago, there have been daily gunfights between Israel's army and Hezbollah in the border area between Israel and Lebanon. On Friday, the militia fired 25 bullets and three drones at Israel, according to the Israeli military. No people were injured. Israel's army reportedly fired back at several Hezbollah launch positions.
Several countries, including Germany, have called on their citizens to leave Lebanon once again. The USA, according to their own statements, are currently not preparing an evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon, but have in this week deployed an additional US warship, the "USS Wasp," to the region. Ships of this type are not only used for militarily supported evacuations, stressed the deputy spokesperson of the Pentagon, Sabrina Singh, on Friday. "They are in the region to ensure stability and deter aggression." The question of whether the deployment of the ship was related to the preparation for a possible evacuation of American citizens, as reported earlier by the US broadcaster NBC, was answered by Singh with "no."
Pentagon: Gaza Pier to be towed to Israel again
Meanwhile, the provisional pier built by the US military on the coast of the contested Gaza Strip has been dismantled again due to rough seas. The pier will be towed to Ashdod on the Israeli coast, according to Singh. She did not name a time when the pier could be put back into operation - this depends on the circumstances. "We will continue to monitor environmental and weather factors," the spokesperson said and promised to keep updating on the progress.
The pier had already been towed to Ashdod before due to rough seas to prevent structural damage. The pier was damaged shortly after it was put into operation in May due to high waves and stormy seas. The Israeli city of Ashdod is about 30 kilometers from Gaza. There have always been problems with the distribution of relief supplies. According to Singh, there are still undistributed relief supplies at the pier site on the beach in Gaza. There is still space, but the area is "nearly full." They are in talks with the World Food Program (WFP) to coordinate further steps, the deputy spokesperson of the Pentagon added. The distribution was recently stopped due to a massive Israeli military operation near the pier, during which several hostages were freed.
- Sabrina Singh, the deputy spokesperson of the Pentagon, mentioned that the USA is not currently planning an evacuation of their citizens from Lebanon.
- The renewed attacks on territories in northern Israel have led to the Israeli Air Force attacking positions of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, as the Israeli army announced.
- The potential war between Israel and Hezbollah could involve the USA and Iran, according to the Iranian UN mission in New York.
- Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant stated that Israel does not want war but sees its army prepared, mentioning the Middle East and its conflicts.
- The Hisbollah militia in Lebanon has demanded that Israel first ends the war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas before stopping its attacks on Israel.
- The USA is exploring alternatives for de-escalation in the conflict in Lebanon, according to a report by the "Washington Post."
- The FIFA World Cup qualifiers match between Lebanon and the USA was postponed due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in the Middle East.
- The Iranian UN mission in New York warned that if Israel initiates a comprehensive military aggression against Lebanon, it will lead to a devastating war.
- The Gaza War between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing for almost nine months, and there have been daily gunfights between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.
- The USA deployed an additional US warship, the "USS Wasp," to the region to ensure stability and deter aggression, according to Sabrina Singh.
- The conflict in the Palestinian territories, specifically between Israel and Gaza Strip's Hamas, is affecting regional stability and negotiations in the Middle East.
