Intensive contacts between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and US officials helped curb Israeli attacks that had escalated since Saturday, as Lebanon awaits Washington’s confirmation of a date for an eighth round of negotiations with Israel, expected to be set this week and held later this month.
Israeli attacks in South Lebanon subsided on Tuesday after three days of airstrikes and artillery shelling that killed at least 28 people, wounded dozens and displaced hundreds from Nabatieh and surrounding villages. Residents began returning on Tuesday morning.
Unlike the heavy strikes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, no Israeli airstrikes were reported by Tuesday afternoon, although drones flew over Beirut, its southern suburbs and other areas in the south.
Israeli forces carried out a demolition in the town of Mansouri, south of Tyre, while an Israeli unit entered the outskirts of Kfar Shouba overnight and raised an Israeli flag on a hill.
Intensive contacts
Ministerial sources close to the Lebanese presidency told Asharq Al-Awsat that Aoun had “conducted intensive contacts with the US side to press Israel to halt its military campaign,” adding that US officials had, in turn, contacted Israel.
The contacts included US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa, while Lebanon’s ambassador to Washington, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, also held talks with US officials aimed at containing the escalation in the south.
On Monday, Aoun warned that Israel’s attacks “will not bring security to civilians along the border” and were targeting the path of the “framework agreement” and undermining efforts to halt escalation in the south and across the region.
“The question today is: Does Israel want peace or war? If it wants war, let that be made clear,” he added.
Lebanon has little leverage to halt Israeli attacks other than through Washington, which it sees as the only available diplomatic channel capable of pressing Israel to cease fire and halt the growing bulldozing and demolition operations in South Lebanon.
Beirut expects a definitive answer from the US by the end of the week on the eighth negotiating session with Israel. Lebanon’s demands in the talks include a ceasefire, Israeli withdrawal from occupied Lebanese territory and the return of prisoners.
US ambassador visits Shiite council
Issa visited the Higher Islamic Shiite Council on Tuesday and met its vice president, Sheikh Ali al-Khatib.
Sources following the visit described it as part of Issa’s protocol meetings with Lebanon’s religious leaders, including Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdel Latif Derian and Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi al-Muna over the past two weeks. Others pointed to its timing following al-Khatib’s meetings in Iran and Iraq.
After the meeting, Issa stressed that the United States wanted what was best for the Shiite community and for southerners to return to their land.
On Israeli attacks, Issa noted that his understanding from the Israeli side was that any fire directed at Israel would be met with a response 10 times greater.
Asked about prisoners, he replied that he will keep up his efforts until they are released, saying it was his responsibility.
Condemnation
Lebanese Minister of State for Administrative Reform Fadi Makki condemned the Israeli attacks after meeting Aoun, calling for intensified efforts to halt them and protect Lebanon.
He also stressed support for the Lebanese army and the need for all sides to rally around the state and its legitimate institutions to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed more than 4,300 people since Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel on March 2, two days after US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, prompting an Israeli air and ground offensive against Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reports that the dead include more than 250 children, around 400 women and more than 130 paramedics.
A ceasefire sharply reduced the violence, but Israeli forces occupying large parts of South Lebanon have continued destroying villages inside a unilaterally declared “security zone.” The Israeli military also continues to carry out strikes within the zone and north of it, often without issuing evacuation warnings.
