US urges Lebanon to negotiate unconditional ceasefire with Israel

The United States has urged the Lebanese military to encourage the Lebanese government to agree to an unconditional ceasefire with Israel.

This information was disseminated by Sky News Arabia, citing a source within the US Defence Ministry, per Caliber.Az.

“We reached out to the Lebanese army command to stress the importance of persuading the government to accept an unconditional ceasefire,” the unnamed source informed the channel.

In turn, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller believes that Israeli pressure on Lebanon and Hezbollah could lead to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. Miller stated, “The U.S., of course, continues to support a cease-fire. But at the same time, there are several other things. (...) First, military pressure can sometimes facilitate diplomacy. But it can also lead to miscalculation.” He further warned that military pressure from Israel is “fraught with negative consequences for the entire Middle East,” prompting Washington to negotiate with Tel Aviv to manage the situation effectively.

Meanwhile, Israel has advised residents of southern Lebanon to refrain from travelling by car south of the Litani River, located approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Avihai Edri stated, “For your personal safety, we ask that you avoid travelling in vehicles from the northern region of the Litani River to the southern area.”

NATO is closely monitoring the situation in Lebanon but remains uninvolved in the conflict. Incoming NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed hopes for a swift end to the violence, stating, “NATO is following the situation in Lebanon closely, but we do not have a role there; we simply hope for a prompt cessation of hostilities.”

Outgoing Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also conveyed the alliance's concerns regarding the escalating situation, without specifically mentioning Israel.

By Tamilla Hasanova