BEIRUT: Hezbollah, the Lebanon-based group engaged in clashes with Israeli forces along the country’s border, has indicated its readiness to halt strikes against Israel once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.
Since the onset of the war in Gaza in October, Hezbollah has been involved in exchanges of fire with Israeli forces across Lebanon’s southern border. However, senior Hezbollah politician Hassan Fadlallah suggested that these strikes would cease once hostilities in Gaza are resolved.
Fadlallah emphasized the interconnectedness of the conflicts, stating, “The war in the south [of Lebanon] is linked to the aggression on Gaza on the one hand, and to securing means of protection for our country on the other.” He further clarified that Hezbollah views its involvement in Lebanon’s southern front as a supportive measure.
Hezbollah’s stance underscores its strategic alignment with the Palestinian cause and its commitment to supporting fellow resistance group against Israeli aggression.
Biden Says Gaza Ceasefire Unlikely by Monday
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has expressed skepticism regarding the possibility of a ceasefire in war-torn Gaza by Monday, citing complications arising from Thursday’s Israeli shootings at an aid distribution point that resulted in at least 112 Palestinian civilians’ deaths.
Biden’s remarks come amid escalating violence in the Gaza Strip, with the latest incident involving Israeli forces firing upon Palestinians waiting for humanitarian aid in northern Gaza. According to figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 112 Palestinians have been killed and 760 wounded in the attack.
Addressing reporters, President Biden acknowledged the challenges posed by the attack on aid seekers, stating that it would likely hinder efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.
The president noted discrepancies in accounts of the incident, indicating that there are “two competing versions of what happened.” He emphasized that the United States is actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Eyewitness reports suggest that Israeli forces initiated the violence by opening fire on a crowd gathered to receive food aid.
