WASHINGTON – Israel vowed Monday to stand up to Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon if a diplomatic solution cannot be reached — as the US tries to defuse tensions and discourage a wider war.
Speaking in Tel Aviv, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised that the Jewish state “will not hesitate to act” to eliminate the militant group.
“If we fail to do that through an understanding – keeping the border area free from terrorists and not allowing direct threats to our people – if such a process will not be implemented diplomatically, we will not hesitate to act,” Gallant said.
A retired Israel Defense Forces general said Hezbollah has been regularly firing “rockets, missiles and drones” into northern Israel from Lebanon since Oct. 8 — a day after Iran-backed terror group Hamas carried out a horrific sneak attack, which killed more than 1,200 Israelis.
Attacks from Hezbollah have left more than 70,000 residents living near the border homeless, Gallant said.
Meanwhile, speaking alongside Gallant on his second visit to Israel since the conflict erupted, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin slammed Hezbollah – but did not say whether the US would support Israel if it chose to retaliate.
“In Lebanon, we have been clear that we do not want to see this conflict expand into a larger war or a regional war, and we call on Hezbollah to ensure that they do not do things that will trigger a wider conflict. ,” he said.
Israel vowed Monday to fight Iran-backed terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon if a diplomatic solution cannot be reached. AFP via Getty Images Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant promised that the Jewish state “will not hesitate to act” to eliminate the militant group. AFP via Getty Images
Austin’s comments are part of an ongoing narrative from Washington that urges outside actors to be careful not to trigger a spread of the Hamas-Israeli conflict across the Middle East.
While the US has stood firm in its support of Israel’s right to self-defense, the Biden administration has pushed the country to do so with few constraints to avoid a larger war and reduce civilian harm.
“Our support for Israel’s right to self-defense, it is strong, as you have heard me say several times and that will not change. It’s critical,” Austin said.
Although Gallant said diplomacy was the “preferred way” to end Hezbollah attacks, insisting that Israel “is not looking for war,” he added that the IDF must protect Israeli citizens.
Attacks from Hezbollah have left more than 70,000 residents living near the border homeless. Reuters
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“On the one hand, we are patient and we are looking for a diplomatic solution that will ensure that Hezbollah is not threatened.[ing] Israeli civilians in the north and the community directly,” the defense minister said.
“On the contrary, we are preparing ourselves for any necessary situation, and if something like that happens, we will know what to do and we will succeed.”
Gallant added: “We are not looking for anything similar to that, and we hope that Hezbollah will understand that it is time to stop.”
Lebanese Hezbollah supporters attend a protest in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. Reuters
Noting that the US is also not “seeking war,” Austin called on Iran “to take steps to reduce” hostilities.
“While we are working to stabilize the region, Iran is increasing tensions by continuing to support terrorist groups and militias,” he said. “These attacks by Iranian proxies threaten the citizens of the region and risk a wider conflict.”
Speaking from the White House on Monday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that while “clearly Israel has the right to defend itself” the US did not want to see a “full conflict” between Hezbollah and Israel.
“We want to keep it this way, to keep this conflict focused, as it should be, on Hamas and beyond October 7,” he said.
“So we are actively discussing with our Israeli counterparts the activities taking place on the northern border.”
The IDF has so far focused most of its attacks on Hamas in northern Gaza, where civilian casualties have risen as terrorists use innocents as human shields.
As of Monday, Gallant said the IDF had attacked “thousands” of Hamas fighters “including senior commanders” in northern Gaza, “destroying military infrastructure” and “disbanding most battalions operating in the area.”
A retired Israel Defense Forces general said Hezbollah had been regularly firing “rockets, missiles and drones” into northern Israel from Lebanon since Oct. 8. AP/Hussein Malla The Biden administration has pushed Israel to scale back their efforts to avoid a larger attack. war AFP via Getty Images
However, the defense minister said Hamas leadership remained intact in southern Gaza, meaning more focus needed to be placed there.
“In southern Gaza, we resigned and focused on elimination[ing] Hamas leadership and military infrastructure,” he said.
But after Israel came under fire for high civilian casualties in the north, the US has urged the Jewish state to be cautious and carry out more targeted strikes, especially as fighting moves south into Gaza where Israel initially told civilians to leave to avoid attacks. in the North.
“The United States has been clear and consistent since Hamas started this war on Oct. 7 that democracy is stronger and safer when we uphold the laws of war,” Austin said.
“Protecting Palestinian civilians in Gaza is a moral obligation as well as a strategic imperative.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
