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Hezbollah blocks peace talks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters at the White House that "Peace between Israel and Lebanon is attainable, but the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon is a problem."
DW reported that Rubio said what "must happen in Lebanon" is that a government exists that can confront Hezbollah and dismantle it, while Germany’s Foreign Minister Johan Wadefold said Israel’s presence in the region is "necessary" but warned, "We must not allow Lebanon to become a theatre of war where civilians pay the price."
DW tied the Lebanon-Israel dispute to the broader conflict, saying Hezbollah fired a rocket toward Israel three days after the start of the joint war between Israel and the United States against the Islamic Republic of Iran and that Israel intensified its airstrikes and its ground invasion of Lebanon.
DW also said that after a fragile ceasefire in mid-April, Israel continued to occupy southern Lebanon and destroy villages there, while Hezbollah continued to attack Israeli forces.
DW further reported that after the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, Tehran said any agreement to end the war must include a halt to Israeli attacks in Lebanon, while Washington stressed these matters are separate.
Iran backs Lebanon’s sovereignty
PressTV reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told a meeting in Tehran with United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jean Arnault that "Iran backs Lebanon's sovereignty, seeks end to Israeli occupation."
PressTV said Araghchi reiterated Tehran’s determination to pursue an end to the Israeli regime’s military aggression against and occupation of Lebanon and condemned repeated illegal U.S. attacks against Iran, violation of arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz, and continued Israeli aggression and terrorist acts against Lebanon.
PressTV stated that Israel continues military offensives across southern Lebanon, where several towns have come under repeated strikes in recent days, and that Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling occur despite a framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel on June 26 under U.S. mediation.
PressTV said Israeli forces continue to occupy regions in southern Lebanon, with some areas held for decades and others taken during the 2023-2024 war, and that they advanced over 10 kilometers into Lebanese territory in the most recent offensive.
PressTV added that since March 2, the Israeli military’s offensives in Lebanon have claimed the lives of over 4,300 people and injured more than 12,200 others, while displacing more than one million individuals.
UN, ceasefire and occupation
PressTV reported that Arnault extended condolences over the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iranian officials, and people during the U.S.-Israeli war of aggression that began on February 28.
PressTV said Arnault stressed the importance of making comprehensive efforts to establish peace and stability in the region and briefed Araghchi on developments in Lebanon and ongoing United Nations efforts aimed at consolidating the ceasefire and bringing an end to the war.
PressTV reported that Arnault expressed hope that implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on ending the war between Iran and the United States, along with enhanced cooperation among regional countries, would restore sustainable peace and security in the region, particularly in Lebanon.
DW described Germany’s position in parallel, saying Wadefold told his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar that direct talks between Israel and the Government of Lebanon are hopeful while Berlin is "deeply concerned about Israel's settlement policies and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank."
DW also reported that Saar defended Israel’s ongoing clashes with Lebanon and said, "Israel must eliminate Hezbollah and other militant groups active in the region that have carried out attacks against Israel."
