The Israeli Defense Minister said on Monday that his country is ready to reach a possible agreement with Hezbollah, backed by Iran, if it includes the establishment of a safe zone along the border with Lebanon and other security guarantees.
Demand for Security Guarantees on the Lebanese Border
Yoav Gallant told reporters: “If Hezbollah allows for an agreement process, and I won’t go into details now, but certainly the agreement cannot be without a safe distance between our fence and any forces that could fire into Israeli territory or forces that could conduct operations inside Israel. If that is possible, with the right guarantees, we can talk about it.”
Demand for a Halt to Hezbollah Attacks on Israel
In a related context, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he spoke with the top U.S. diplomat on Monday and informed him that the international community needs to ensure the cessation of attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah on Israel.
Gantz stated in a post on X: “I expressed to Secretary [Antony Blinken] that the escalating aggression and increasing attacks by Iran-backed Hezbollah on Israel requires Israel to eliminate this threat from the civilian population in northern Israel.”
The Current Escalation on the Lebanese Border
Israeli shelling killed a local official in southern Lebanon on Monday, according to the Lebanese National News Agency, amid cross-border fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah.
The Lebanese news agency reported the death of Hussein Mansour, 80, a local official from Taybeh near the border, “in an Israeli enemy attack on the village.”
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the border between Lebanon and Israel has witnessed an escalation in crossfire, raising concerns of a broader conflict.
More than 120 people have been killed on the Lebanese side since October, mainly Hezbollah fighters, including 17 civilians, according to estimates from AFP.
Israel claims that six soldiers and four Israeli civilians have been killed in the north of the country.
The Lebanese National News Agency reported Israeli shelling and airstrikes in various parts of southern Lebanon on Monday, while Hezbollah, which is an ally of Hamas, claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Israeli forces and positions near the border.
Last week, the United States expressed deep concern after Israeli strikes killed a soldier in the Lebanese Armed Forces and injured others. A former U.S. official told Al Arabiya English: “The Lebanese Armed Forces are a crucial institution, not just for the stability and security of Lebanon, but for the entire region.”
The Israeli army issued a rare apology to express regret after the U.S. statements, saying the incident is under review. It claimed in a post on X that they targeted a threat inside a known launch area and a observation point used by Hezbollah.
The United States is working to contain the conflict in Gaza and has warned Israel against preemptive strikes on Lebanon. The U.S. has also assured Lebanon and its officials that it cannot be a launch pad for attacks against Israel. U.S. officials have repeatedly stated that they do not wish to see the escalation extend to Lebanon, saying it would not be in anyone’s interest.
In cooperation with news agencies
Read also: Israeli strikes on Hezbollah launch areas and a military compound in Lebanon in response to mortar fire on Israel
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