Biden's envoy holds talks in Israel to prevent full-fledged war with Lebanon's Hezbollah

Amos Hochstein, a special envoy of US President Joe Biden, is in Israel for talks aimed at preventing a full-fledged with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Hochstein held talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Top military and security officials were also part of the meeting. Separately, Hochstein also held talks with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli President Herzog.

Hochstein’s visit comes at a time when tensions are running high on Israel’s northern front where Hezbollah has ramped up attacks in recent weeks. The situation is such that the Israeli military has warned that Hezbollah has pushed the two sides to the “brink of a wider escalation” — a euphemism for a full-fledged war.

Hochstein is also supposed to meet Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Banny Gantz, who was until recently part of the War Cabinet of Israel.

Fears of all-out Israel-Hezbollah War

Amid escalating situation along the northern border with Lebanon, Israel has expressed openness for a diplomatic resolution for the situation.

At the same time, Israel has also expressed the openness of going to war against Hezbollah to “restore security to the north if an agreement isn’t reached”, according to The Times of Israel.

Since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas War, Hezbollah has clashed with Israel on a near-daily basis. In recent months, the two sides have been clashing fiercely. Hezbollah’s rocket barrages have ignited the northern parts of Israel and large swathes have been hit with fires. For months, tens of thousands of Israelis have been internally displaced as the northern border region of the country is too deemed too dangerous to reside in.

Last week, CBS News reported that the United States was concerned that a full-fledged war between Israel and Hezbollah was highly likely.

Separately, France had also proposed a trilateral mechanism along with the United States to diffuse tensions between the two ides, but Israel had rejected the offer of French President Emmanuel Macron.

‘Hezbollah is bringing Israel to brink of wider escalation’

Amid mounting tensions with the Hezbollah, the Israeli military has warned that the Iran-backed terrorist group has brought the two sides to “the brink of a wider escalation”.

In a statement on Sunday, Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari had such an escalation could have “devastating consequences for Lebanon and the entire region”.

Hagari said that the safety of Israel was non-negotiable and put the onus on Hezbollah.

“Because of Hezbollah’s military infrastructure, weapons and fire at Israel from the area south of the Litani River in southern Lebanon, and because of Lebanon’s failure to enforce 1701 on Hezbollah, Israel will take the necessary measures to protect its civilians, until security along our border with Lebanon is restored,” said Hagari.

“Iran’s terror proxies continue to drag the region to destruction. Israel will continue fighting against Iran’s axis of evil on all fronts — in Gaza, in Lebanon — as we work towards a more secure future for the Middle East…October 7th cannot happen again, on any one of Israel’s borders. Israel has a duty to defend the people of Israel. We will fulfill that duty, at all costs,” said Hagari.