Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed “Good Morning America” on Wednesday that the escalating battle between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon “must be contained.”
“We’re working to ensure this does not get right into a full-scale battle,” Blinken mentioned. Requested if he believes such escalation may be prevented, Blinken responded: “I do.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks throughout an occasion supporting the “World Coalition to Handle Artificial Drug Threats” on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nationwide Normal Meeting in New York Metropolis on Sept. 24, 2024.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
“Israel has a respectable downside it has to resolve,” Blinken mentioned, noting Hezbollah’s near-constant cross-border strikes since Oct. 8 and the following evacuation of components of northern Israel.
Blinken additionally acknowledged these fleeing their houses amid Israeli retaliation in southern Lebanon.
The “finest method” to deal with Israel’s issues within the north, Blinken continued, “is thru diplomacy.”
There have been “various occasions” the place full-scale battle on the shared Israel-Lebanon border appeared imminent since Oct. 7, Blinken mentioned. “Diplomacy by america prevented that from occurring.”
“But when there have been to be a full-scale battle, that would not resolve the issue.”
President Joe Biden and his high administration officers say they’re working exhausting to de-escalate the scenario in Lebanon.
In a speech to the United Nations Normal Meeting on Tuesday, Biden condemned Hezbollah’s “unprovoked” assaults into Israel since Oct. 8.
“Nearly a 12 months later, too many on either side of the Israeli-Lebanon border stay displaced,” the president mentioned.
“Full-scale battle just isn’t in anybody’s curiosity,” he added. “Even because the scenario has escalated, a diplomatic resolution continues to be potential. The truth is, it stays the one path to lasting safety to permit the residents from each nations to return to their houses on the border safely.”
“That is what we’re working tirelessly to attain,” Biden mentioned.
-ABC Information’ David Brennan
