Ground invasion of Lebanon will not reduce tensions: US State official
3 Min Read
A US State Department official stresses that the US opposes an Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
-
Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike on a valley near Marjayoun town, south Lebanon, on September 21, 2024. (AP)
A US State Department official stated on Monday that the United States is offering "concrete" proposals to help de-escalate the escalations in Lebanon, while also expressing opposition to any potential Israeli ground invasion of Lebanon.
"We've got some concrete ideas we're going to be discussing with allies and partners this week to try to figure out the way forward on this," the senior US official said as world leaders gathered in New York for the UN General Assembly.
The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, stated that the United States aims to find an "off-ramp that will first and foremost prevent further escalation in the fighting." He hoped that the US proposals would "reduce tensions and will segue into a diplomatic process that allows communities on both sides of the border—on both sides of the Blue Line—to safely return home in the near future."
The official refrained from providing detailed descriptions of the concrete ideas but mentioned that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other senior US officials would discuss them during their meetings at the General Assembly.
He renewed opposition by the United States to a ground invasion by "Israel", which launched raids on different villages in southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region killing up to 450 civilians, including children.
"I think it is important for everyone to take Israeli preparations seriously," he said.
"We obviously do not believe that a ground invasion of Lebanon is going to contribute to reducing tensions in the region, to preventing an escalatory spiral of violence, and that's in part why we are so focused on utilizing this week to explore these ideas and see if we can develop this off-ramp," he said.
His statement comes after President Joe Biden asserted that his country was attempting to calm the situation in Lebanon following the Israeli air raids.
During a meeting with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House that he was updated on the current situation and that his staff was "in constant contact with their counterparts, and we're working to de-escalate in a way that allows people to return home safely."
While President Biden asserts the country is aiming to calm tensions, he seems to not comment on the fact that this aggression and escalation is funded by his government, which approved an unprecedented emergency military supplies shipments worth $14 billion, in addition to the regular annual US military aid of $3.8 billion. Washington also provided an additional $500 million for Israeli air defense systems.
