Biden Urges Lebanon Truce; US Official Warns of Possible Israeli Incursion, According to Reuters

By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Monday called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, although a U.S. official indicated that the deployment of Israeli troops suggested a potential ground incursion against Hezbollah militants might be approaching.

When asked about reports of Israeli ground forces preparing to enter southern Lebanon, Biden expressed that he was "comfortable" with Israel halting its actions.

Several senior aides supported Biden’s call for a ceasefire, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic resolution to facilitate the return of tens of thousands of displaced Israelis and Lebanese to their homes near the border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington would continue collaborating with regional and global partners to promote a diplomatic solution during a State Department conference.

However, a U.S. official, who requested anonymity, noted that observations of Israeli troop positioning hinted at an imminent ground incursion into Lebanon. The official refrained from providing further details on the state of Israeli forces.

The U.S. push for de-escalation follows two weeks of Israeli airstrikes and the targeting of Hezbollah commanders, including an attack on Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday.

Israeli officials have asserted that they will take necessary actions to ensure the safety of approximately 70,000 citizens who were evacuated from northern Israeli areas after Hezbollah initiated rocket strikes on October 8, in support of a Hamas attack from Gaza the previous day.

In remarks made to troops stationed along Israel’s northern border, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant alluded to a possible ground offensive. "We will use all the means that may be required – your forces, other forces, from the air, from the sea, and on land. Good luck," he remarked.

The Biden administration is concerned that the assassination of Nasrallah and further Israeli military actions could trigger a broader regional conflict.

The U.S. envoy to the United Nations emphasized the importance of ongoing diplomacy to end the violence in Lebanon and Gaza. "We want to find a path to peace, so that Palestinians and Israelis have safety and Lebanese and Israelis living on the northern border find security and safety as well," stated U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield during a press briefing.