The United States expressed concern over escalating tensions between Israel and Hezbollah following a series of deadly pager blasts in Lebanon. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated that the US is not involved in the attacks and emphasized the need for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. However, he also mentioned that it is not solely the responsibility of the US to prevent further escalation, urging all parties to work towards peace.
Criticism has been directed at the Biden administration for not leveraging its military aid to Israel to end the violence in the Gaza Strip, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed. Analysts have accused the US of both fueling and trying to extinguish conflicts in the region. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the explosions and vowed to retaliate, while the Israeli army has not yet commented on the incidents.
As the US continues to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, the explosions in Lebanon pose a challenge to the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to calls for de-escalation has been described as defiant, with analysts pointing to Israel’s disregard for US diplomatic pressure.
Ramy Khoury, a fellow at the American University of Beirut, criticized the US for prioritizing Israel’s interests over diplomacy in the region. He noted that the US’s unconditional support for Israel undermines its credibility as a diplomatic actor. Despite efforts to broker peace, the US faces challenges in navigating the complex political dynamics in the Middle East.
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