Since the outbreak of military confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel along the southern Lebanese border, the American administration has consistently reiterated its efforts to reduce tensions and its refusal to expand the Israeli war on Gaza towards Lebanon. This is to avoid negative repercussions and fears of other countries, particularly Iran, getting involved, which could lead to regional wars. American presidential advisor Amos Hochstein was dispatched to the region to help cool the southern front and work on drafting an agreement between Hezbollah and Israel to resolve tensions and restore security and stability in the area, as reported by "Al-Liwaa."
Hochstein visited Lebanon and Israel multiple times to fulfill his mission, leveraging his experience and relationships with both parties, having previously mediated to resolve the maritime border dispute between the two countries and successfully reaching a final agreement on maritime boundary demarcation. Diplomatic information has circulated indicating that Hochstein made progress in his mission and was able to draft an agreement to end the military confrontation and return to normalcy; however, what is delaying this is Hezbollah's insistence on linking any agreement to the end of the Gaza war first.
The American presidential advisor returned to Washington, awaiting the conclusion of the war in Gaza to complete his mission by finalizing the necessary agreement. However, he was compelled to return to the region recently at the urgent presidential request, to activate his mediation following escalating mutual threats, particularly from Israel regarding a potential war to push Hezbollah away from the southern Lebanese borders.
Amidst the rising Israeli threats and fears of Israel launching a large-scale war against Hezbollah, there have been intermittent rumors, especially within diplomatic circles, that the American administration refuses to give Israel the green light to attack Lebanon, which would provide protective cover for Lebanon from any aggression. Hochstein's return to the region to continue mediating between Hezbollah and Israel, before the Gaza war ends, coincides with a spike in military operations and mutual threats, raising continuous questions about Washington's current position regarding the possibility of Israel executing its repeated threats and whether it has given Israel the green light to conduct its attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon. This is particularly relevant after Hochstein's statements in Beirut yesterday carried messages from Israel that exceeded mere threats, moving towards actual implementation, regardless of whether the anticipated assaults are limited to specific targets or are of a broader scope. According to diplomatic sources, if Israel does not receive the required American green light for any military operation or war outside its borders, it would represent an unwise gamble, especially if the military confrontation expands, particularly involving Iran or other countries, according to "Al-Liwaa."
