US to Israel: War on Lebanon won’t enable return of illegal settlers
The US has told the Israeli regime that a war by the latter on Lebanon would not enable the return of the illegal settlers, who have fled the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories as a result of Hezbollah’s retaliatory strikes.
US envoy Amos Hochstein made the remarks to Israeli minister for military affairs, Yoav Gallant on Monday, The Times of Israel reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.
Around 100,000 of the settlers have fled the territories amid the strikes that the Lebanese resistance movement has been carrying out in response to the Israeli regime’s intensified attacks against southern Lebanon.
Such a war would rather raise the risk of a prolonged regional conflict, Hochstein also noted.
Gallant, however, asserted that “military action” was “the only way left to ensure” return of the settlers.
Hochstein also met with the regime’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it “will do what is necessary” to realize the objective.
Separately on Monday, Gallant spoke to the Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin on the phone, alleging that “the possibility of a settlement” that could end the crossfire between the regime and Hezbollah “is passing,” adding, “The direction is clear.”
Hezbollah has, however, warned the regime that a potential war would not only fail to prompt the return of the settlers, but would also cause “hundreds of thousands” of others to flee the occupied territories too.
"We have no intention of going to war as we consider that this would not be useful,” the movement’s Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem said on Saturday.
"However, if Israel does unleash a war, we will face up to it,” Qassem added, and asserted that Hezbollah’s response would also cause “large losses” on the Israeli side.
The regime waged wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006 only to be forced into beating humiliating retreats as a result of Hezbollah’s decisive defensive operations.
Hezbollah has invariably vowed in remarks comparable to those made by Qassem that it would defend the Lebanese soil with all its resources in the event of another wholesale Israeli military onslaught.
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