Hezbollah, supported by Iran, has rejected Washington's initial proposals to ease escalating hostilities with Israel, including suggestions to withdraw its fighters from the border. However, Lebanese officials affirm the group's willingness to engage in U.S. diplomacy to avert a potentially devastating conflict.
In an article Thursday, Reuters reported that the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah has spurned the United States proposal that was meant to calm down the group's retaliation against their neighbors in Israel. The proposal allegedly suggested that the group pull away from its current position at the border. Hezbollah has stated that they are still open to diplomacy to prevent an escalation of the conflict despite them spurring the initial proposal. United States Envoy, Amos Hochstein, has been leading the outreach to the group. The group has not been a direct part of this communication however and instead, Hochstein's proposals have been relayed to the group by Lebanese mediators.
Hezbollah's Statement
Hezbollah has stated that they will continue to fire rockets at neighboring Israel until the conflict within Gaza has ended. Israel has also stated that it'd like to avoid an escalation of this conflict as well but has stated that it's prepared to fight and if an agreement to the border area is safe it will respond more aggressively. There has been another proposal made that asks the group to keep its militants at least 7 km/4 miles away from the border. At this range according to an Israeli official anti-tank missiles would not pose a threat to communities within the Northern region of Israel. This is still much closer than their initial public demand of 30 km/19 miles away.
However, Hezbollah has spurned both proposals and has referred to them as unrealistic. But as previously stated the group remains open to negotiations in a statement to Reuters a senior Hezbollah official stated "After the war in Gaza, we are ready to support Lebanese negotiators to turn the threat into opportunity".
Iran supports not only Hezbollah but also the Houthi Rebel group, causing disruptions in Red Sea trade routes. This solidarity with the Israel-Hamas conflict is creating a significant ripple effect, involving more countries both within and outside the Middle East.
