White House says US determined to de-escalate Israel-Lebanon tensions
US President Joe Biden is determined to bring about a Gaza ceasefire and captive deal with Hamas while it also seeks to de-escalate tensions on Israel’s border with Lebanon, according to White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
“He absolutely hasn’t given up,” Sullivan said in an interview with MSNBC. He said there have been challenges getting both sides across the line, “but we’re determined to keep at it”.
White House urges Americans to leave Lebanon
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby says Americans in Lebanon should leave now while flights are still available.
“We want to make sure that there are still commercial options available for Americans to leave, and they should be leaving now while those options are available,” Kirby told ABC News’s “Good Morning America” programme, adding that US officials have been in constant contact with Israeli counterparts.
Looks like the de-escalation attempts are only for show again.
Israel ’emboldened’ by US support
One of the major issues being pointed out by analysts, by experts, by regional leaders concerned about this escalation is that Israel is able to do so because there is no proportional military deterrent.
But there is a presence of a massive US military war machine off the Mediterranean providing cover for Israel in the event that any regional actors may want to get involved in the conflict. So that military cover, political cover on the international stage has emboldened Israel to continue to do what they’re doing.
And every attack that happens where there is no international condemnation only emboldens them further towards the next one.
UN chief warns Lebanon is on the ‘brink’ after Israeli attacks
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tells world leaders that Lebanon was “at the brink” and warned against allowing the country to turn into “another Gaza,” a day after Israeli attacks killed more than 550 people there.
“Gaza is a nonstop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Look no further than Lebanon,” Guterres said at the opening of the UN’s annual gathering as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, threatened to plunge the region into all-out war.
“We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza.”
War featured prominently in the UN chief’s remarks, with references to Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other continuing conflicts. You can follow our live coverage of the UN General Assembly 2024 here.
Iran president says Hezbollah ‘cannot stand alone’ against Israel: Report
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says that its ally Hezbollah “cannot stand alone” against Israel.
“Hezbollah cannot stand alone against a country that is being defended and supported and supplied by Western countries, by European countries and the United States,” Pezeshkian said in an interview with CNN, translated from Farsi to English.
He called on the international community to “not allow Lebanon to become another Gaza,” in response to a question on whether Iran would use its influence with Hezbollah to urge restraint.
Iran called on the UN Security Council to “take immediate action” against the “insane” Israeli escalation.
