US Aims to Prevent Escalation Between Israel and Hezbollah, State Department Official Reports

By Humeyra Pamuk and Simon Lewis

NEW YORK – A senior State Department official stated that the U.S. does not endorse the escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The official indicated that Washington plans to engage in discussions with allies and partners to explore “concrete ideas” aimed at preventing the conflict from expanding.

On Monday, Israel conducted airstrikes against Hezbollah positions, resulting in 492 fatalities and prompting tens of thousands to flee, marking one of Lebanon’s deadliest days in years, according to local authorities.

Israeli officials have expressed that the recent increase in airstrikes on Hezbollah targets is intended to push the Iran-aligned group toward a diplomatic resolution. However, the U.S. official emphasized that the Biden administration is focused on “reducing tensions… and breaking the cycle of strike-counterstrike,” countering Israel’s rationale for its military actions.

The official noted, “I can’t recall, at least in recent memory, a period in which an escalation or intensification led to a fundamental de-escalation and led to profound stabilization of the situation.” When asked if this represented a disagreement with Israel’s viewpoint, the official confirmed with a nod.

The escalating conflict along Israel’s northern border with Lebanon is a key concern for Secretary of State Antony Blinken during the U.N. General Assembly this week. The U.S. aims to propose practical steps to prevent a wider war and seeks an “off ramp” to reduce tensions.

“It’s an evolution of those discussions into practical measures that have a good chance of reducing tensions and gaining traction,” the official added.

When questioned about whether the U.S. believes Israel is planning a ground invasion of Lebanon, the official did not provide a definitive answer but stated, “We obviously do not believe that a ground invasion of Lebanon is going to contribute to reducing tensions in the region.”