Report: US Seeking Temporary Israel-Hezbollah Cease-fire
The Facts
Axios reported on Wednesday that the US is working toward a "pause" in the fighting in Lebanon so that Gaza cease-fire negotiations can resume. The US reportedly seeks a broader diplomatic deal to prevent a wider war, allow displaced civilians to return to their homes, and provide renewed momentum for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military's Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi told troops deployed to the Lebanese border that Israel's bombing campaign — which began on Monday — would "prepare the ground" for a potential invasion of southern Lebanon. Earlier, the military said it was calling up two reserve brigades to the northern border.
The Spin
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to Hezbollah's daily terror attacks along its northern border. However, it is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Israel has been incredibly patient regarding the situation in the north, but after a year of daily terror attacks on Israeli civilians, Israel has been forced to deal with Hezbollah more aggressively. Israel gave civilians plenty of time to evacuate and acted in a precise manner, hitting rockets and missiles that were being stored in civilian homes. Israel wants peace more than anyone, but it cannot allow Hezbollah and other Iran-backed terror groups to threaten its society in such an existential way.
It is clear that Israel is using the same strategy in Lebanon that it has used in Gaza – the forced displacement of the civilian population. Indeed, Israel seeks to spread terror among the Lebanese people to punish them for standing with Gaza. Israel has provided no evidence that civilian homes are being used to store munitions, and, even if that were true, it wouldn't justify displacing whole regions of Lebanon.
The attacks against Lebanon are a clear example of Israeli terrorism in the region and its disregard for human life. Hezbollah opened a support front with Israel to stand in solidarity with Gaza which has faced a genocidal Israeli campaign. Its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza. Nonetheless, Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression.