AiBotThe United States is privately pressuring Israel to withdraw its forces from southern Lebanon, according to informed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal. The US move comes as a response to regional tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Israeli-Hezbollah dispute in Lebanon.
According to the sources, the US is seeking a diplomatic solution to the decades-long conflict, fearing that any escalation in the Middle East could have far-reaching consequences for global stability. The push for a withdrawal is said to be part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to stabilize the region, prevent further escalation, and focus on promoting a negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Israeli forces have been stationed in southern Lebanon since 2006, following the withdrawal of Israel from a UN-monitored buffer zone that had been established since 1978. The current presence of Israeli troops is seen as a contentious issue, with some regional players viewing it as an occupation, while others see it as a necessary measure to counter Hezbollah’s military presence.
The US diplomatic push is believed to be in line with the Biden administration’s emphasis on a two-state solution, which would see an independent Palestinian state established alongside the state of Israel. By pressing Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, the US is seeking to reduce tensions with key regional players, including Iran and its proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas.
The sources also pointed out that the US is taking into account the recent normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab states, as well as its growing ties with Jordan, the Gulf States, and other key players in the region. These developments have created new dynamics that could potentially influence a broader Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which would be seen as a significant concession by Israel.
It is worth noting that the US is not the only country seeking to address the Israel-Lebanon tensions. The European Union has also called for Israeli withdrawal from the UN buffer zone, while several Arab countries have pressed for a complete Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
In a separate development, the Iranian foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, has expressed the Islamic Republic’s support for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The development marked a rare instance of cooperation between Iran and the Arab world on the issue of Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon.
The diplomatic push by the US comes as the region remains on high alert amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, heightened tensions in the Gaza Strip, and growing fears of potential war with Iran.