Blinken outlines plan how US seeks to ease tensions in Lebanon
Photo: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (Getty Images)
Following Israel's elimination of several high-ranking Hezbollah leaders, the United States is seeking a new pathway to exit the political deadlock in Lebanon and de-escalate the ongoing conflict, according to the US Department of State.
To ease tensions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken separately phoned Caretaker Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to discuss the need for a resolution to the situation.
Earlier this week, Blinken discussed with his Saudi, Qatari, and French counterparts how a resolution — notably the election of a new president in Lebanon — could reduce tensions in the Middle East, compelling Hezbollah to withdraw its forces from the northern Israeli border to the line established in the UN Security Council resolution that ended the war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006.
"It’s clear that the people of Lebanon have an interest, a strong interest in the state asserting itself and taking responsibility for the country and its future. The presidency has been vacant for two years now, and for the Lebanese people, having a head of state would be very important," Blinken told reporters after the East Asia leaders' summit in Laos.
He emphasized that the future of Lebanon should be decided by its people and no one else, including "any outside actor, whether it’s the United States, Israel, or any of the many actors in the region."
"We all have a strong interest in trying to help create an environment in which people can go back to their homes and live there safely and securely, and kids can go back to school. So Israel has a clear and very legitimate interest in doing that. The people of Lebanon want the same thing. We believe that the best way to get there is through a diplomatic understanding, one that we’ve been working on for some time and one that we’re extremely focused on right now," Blinken stated.
The presidency in Lebanon has remained vacant for two years, and Blinken underscored "the need to empower leadership that reflects the will of the people for a stable, prosperous, and independent Lebanon."
He says that “Lebanon cannot allow Iran or Hezbollah to stand in the way of Lebanon’s security and stability.”
At the same time, the statement did not mention discussions of a possible ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed group.
Escalation between Israel and Hezbollah
At the beginning of October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation against Hezbollah militants, who are supported by Iran, intending to push the Islamists further away from the Israeli border in southern Lebanon.
The IDF has eliminated several Hezbollah leaders, while the militants conduct extensive shelling of northern Israel daily.
Multiple media outlets reported that the US and Arab nations are negotiating a comprehensive ceasefire throughout the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the MED9 countries pledged to support the Lebanese army in regaining control over the southern regions of the country, where hostilities are currently taking place between Israel and Hezbollah.
