American envoy to Beirut for talks with Lebanese officials

2024-10-22 07:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Beirut on Monday for talks aimed at reaching a solution to the conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border, part of a diplomatic effort that also brought US Secretary of State Antony Blinken back to the region, with the aim of reaching a cease-fire in the Strip. of Gaza.

Mr. Hochstein told reporters that he had a "useful" meeting with Lebanon's parliament speaker, Nabih Berri, and that while in Lebanon he would talk to members of the government, the military and anyone else who is willing to work to get the country back on track. in the way of "security, stability and economic well-being".

He pointed to UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was adopted at the end of the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and includes a call for Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters north of Lebanon's Litani River and that Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

The American envoy Hochstein said that no one made any effort to implement the Resolution, adding that only the commitment of the parties to its implementation is not enough. He reiterated that the aim is to build confidence on both sides that the Resolution will be implemented and guarantee that the conflict will not be repeated within a month or a year.

"The citizens of Lebanon, like everyone in the region, want to go home, build a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for themselves and their families," said Mr. Hochstein.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken left on Monday for a week-long visit to the Middle East to try to revive the negotiation process to reach a ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas at a time when Israel is planning a retaliatory attack on Iran.

According to US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, Secretary Blinken will discuss during his visit plans for the post-conflict period and emphasize the need "to find a solution that allows the Palestinians to rebuild their lives and realize their aspirations of free from the tyranny of Hamas," as he said.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military apologized on Monday for killing three Lebanese soldiers in an attack in southern Lebanon.

An Israeli army spokesman said Sunday's attack hit a Lebanese army vehicle and that Israel does not operate against the Lebanese army.

The Lebanese army has played no role in the conflict, which has escalated over the past month as Israel stepped up airstrikes and Israeli troops intervened in southern Lebanon./ Voa