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06/18/2024June 18, 2024A US envoy has called for "urgent" de-escalation of cross-border exchanges of fire between Lebanon's Hezbollah and Israeli forces. DW has more.
https://p.dw.com/p/4hBqE
Israeli soldiers patrol near the border between Israel and Lebanon, where there are almost daily exchanges of fireImage: Francisco Seco/AP/picture allianceWhat you need to know
- US calls for 'urgent' de-escalation of cross-border fire on Lebanon-Israel border
- Israeli military intelligence issued warnings of an imminent attack more than two weeks before the October 7 Hamas attack, according to media reports
Here is a roundup of developments in the Israel-Hamas war on Tuesday, June 18.
06/18/2024June 18, 2024
US envoy calls Lebanese-Israeli border situation 'serious'
US special envoy Amos Hochstein said his country is working to avoid a "greater war" between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. He described the situation as "serious."
"We have seen an escalation over the last few weeks and what [US President Joe] Biden wants to do is to avoid a further escalation to a greater war. That is the effort here," Hochstein told reporters after holding talks with Lebanon's House Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah.
The envoy said it is in everyone's interest to resolve the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah quickly and diplomatically.
"That is both achievable and urgent," he added.
Hochstein arrived in the Lebanese capital early Tuesday and is expected to hold talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib.
Hezbollah pledged support for Hamas against Israel after the October 7 terror attacks by Hamas, although the two groups do not always see eye to eye. The Lebanon-based group has fought Israel before in several deadly wars and is classified as a terror organization by the latter, the US and several Arab states.
dh/ab (Reuters, AFP, dpa, AP)
https://p.dw.com/p/4hBrj
