German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock warned that “miscalculation” could trigger the Israel-Hezbollah war, while US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin stated the need for a diplomatic solution (Updated June 26 at 05:34 p.m.).
Baerbock made the announcement on Tuesday, 25 June, against the backdrop of her one-day visit to Beirut. There, she met with her Lebanese counterpart Abdallah Bou Habib after visits to Israel and West Bank. They discussed the situation in Lebanon and the wider escalation between Hezbollah and the Israeli Army.
The German minister also expressed “Germany’s concern about the current tensions in the area and cautioned against reaching a deadlock, particularly if both Hezbollah and Israel reject a cease-fire.” However, Bou Habib reiterated “Lebanon’s commitment to peaceful solutions, especially given the challenges it currently faces.”
At the same time, Baerbock expressed concern about the ongoing confrontations in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah. She warned that “failure to reach an agreement on a cease-fire would pose a danger to everyone, as it could escalate into a regional war, affecting not only Lebanon and Israel but the entire region.”
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also expressed concern over the situation on the Israel-Lebanon border. During a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, Austin blamed Hezbollah’s “provocations” for the rising tensions.
Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent more escalation. So we’re urgently seeking a diplomatic agreement that restores lasting calm to Israel’s northern border and enables civilians to return safely to their homes on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border.
Gallant often speculated that Israel could launch a large-scale war against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. On Tuesday, he stated that he was “working closely” with Austin to find a diplomatic solution. However, they also discussed military “readiness on every possible scenario.”
Although US President Joe Biden’s administration has repeatedly urged Israel to avoid fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon, it recently stated that Israel would receive full US support in the event of such a move.
