US President Joe Biden is not giving up yet on optimism through diplomatic means as this will be able to lessen the fighting that’s developing between Israel and Hezbollah as both countries keep on hitting each other, using walkie-talkies and even pagers in recent bombings which have triggered rocketing regional tensions.
“He believes it’s possible,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a Thursday press briefing. “The president continues to believe that we have to be optimistic, and a diplomatic resolution is the best way forward.”
The explosions that are being attributed to Hezbollah have killed at least 37 people and left thousands injured in Lebanon. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility for the strikes, Lebanese officials say they have traced the attacks back to the IDF.
Simultaneously, the overheating of the conflict hasn’t stopped Biden from being in close contact with US allies in the Middle East, urging them to exercise restraint and to seek a diplomatic way of bringing violence to an end. The administration headed by Biden repeats that it supports the right to self-defend Israel, but at the same time makes it obvious that civilian casualties should be minimized.
Hezbollah and Israel have been sporadically fighting each other for a year now with their borders as the center of conflict. This war cycle has evoked calls from the entire world to respond to the peacemaking efforts in that region, which puts the US at the middle of the mediation process.
Escalation and Global Reactions
Thursday saw the IDF resume its new series of airstrikes that targeted Hezbollah strongholds in southern Lebanon with the objective of degrading the group’s military infrastructure. The strikes form part of Israel’s efforts to ratchet up the elimination of Hezbollah’s network of tunnels and fortified positions from which they believe it launches attacks on Israeli soil. The recent attacks have sent shivers down the spines of world leaders, who fear the conflict could spiral into a broader regional war.“The IDF continues to strike Hezbollah positions in Lebanon to try and weaken their military capabilities,” the Israeli defense force said in a statement. “Hezbollah has long used civilian areas as shields, putting lives at risk,” a state of affairs labeled “outrageous” by another Israel deputy consul.
It has been a case of “new phase,” in developments during the recent conflict, said Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant; with escalation in military action on Israel’s northern border. In short, “Our emphasis has shifted to the safety of Israeli communities in the north, and we will do whatever it takes to protect our citizens,” declared Gallant.
Now down to Diplomatic Path Forward
While the situation remains volatile on the ground, the Biden administration is constantly pushing for diplomacy as a route to peace. Biden has called out both sides to negotiate, demanding that both parties agree on immediate ceasefires and eventually provide humanitarian access to affected regions. However, with both Hezbollah and Israel entrenched in their positions, it would take great continued international pressure for such a diplomatic solution to last.And as the conflict advances, so too is the US engaging its regional allies-most notably, though the leadership of Egypt, and Qatar, who were part of previous negotiations between Israel and Hezbollah. Many await these nations’ crucial role in the facilitation of dialogue and the brokering of a potential ceasefire.
Under such tensions and nomenclatures, the call made by Biden for more diplomacy underlines the fact that his administration still believes that a negotiated settlement is the only viable solution for the ongoing crisis.
