US Ambassador Claims Israel Will Not Target Beirut’s Dahiya if Hezbollah Halts Attacks
The United States ambassador to Beirut has stated that if Hezbollah stops its attacks on the occupied Palestinian territories, Israel will not target southern Beirut’s Dahiya district. These remarks came following his meetings with Lebanon’s President and Parliament Speaker, amid no reports indicating a cessation of Israel’s recurring ceasefire violations in Lebanon.
On Monday, Michel Aoun met with Nabih Berri, the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, saying that Hezbollah’s response regarding the ceasefire has been received. Without mentioning Israel’s repeated attacks on various areas in Lebanon, he claimed that if Hezbollah ceases its attacks, Israel will likewise refrain from targeting southern Beirut’s Dahiya.
The US Ambassador also stated that this issue is part of ongoing negotiations between Lebanon, Israel, and the United States; however, he did not provide details about the situation in other areas of Lebanon or the continuation of attacks there. While speaking of the Lebanese army’s role in securing southern Lebanon, he did not address the issue of Israeli presence and occupation in some southern regions.
In a separate meeting with President Joseph Aoun, Michel Aoun discussed the continuation of direct negotiations between the Lebanese government and Israel. He described the recent Israeli attacks on Dahiya in Beirut as a “political message” and asserted that the United States intends to prevent the escalation of war.
According to the US ambassador, trilateral talks between Lebanon, the United States, and Israel are expected to resume in Washington, though no specific date has been set. He stated that the aim of these discussions is to explore ways to end the current situation in Lebanon, adding that the process will require time and it is not expected that all issues will be resolved in a single session.
