WASHINGTON: The US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday he did not believe a war was inevitable between Hezbollah and Israel though he remained concerned about the potential for escalation after a deadly rocket strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, which resulted in the deaths of 12 persons.
Speaking at a joint press conference in Manila after security talks along with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and their Philippine counterparts, Austin emphasized the importance of diplomatic solutions. “While we’ve seen a lot of activity on Israel’s northern border, we remain concerned about the potential of this escalating into a full-blown fight. And I don’t believe that a fight is inevitable,” Austin said. He reiterated the US commitment to resolving the situation through diplomatic means rather than military escalation.
The violence between Hezbollah and Israel, which began in October, has intensified since Saturday’s rocket attack on a Druze village in the Golan Heights, an area occupied by Israel. The rocket strike killed 12 persons. The Israeli government has accused Hezbollah of the attack and vowed a harsh response. However, Hezbollah has denied any involvement in the incident.
The United States has been actively involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing Israel from conducting strikes on major civilian infrastructure in Lebanon, international media reported. The US is striving to de-escalate the situation and avoid a broader conflict that could have severe regional consequences.
Since October, Hezbollah and Israeli forces have engaged in nearly daily exchanges of fire across the Lebanese-Israeli border, marking the worst conflict between the two parties since the 2006 Lebanon War. Despite the hostilities, both sides have indicated a preference for avoiding a full-scale war.
The Israeli military reported that it struck approximately 10 Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon overnight, killing one Hezbollah fighter. Hezbollah confirmed the death of one of its fighters and described the strikes as part of the broader pattern of violence that has characterized the conflict over the past nine months.
