US official to i24NEWS: 'The pilot is the only solution'
A US State Department spokesperson told i24NEWS that "we expect the Lebanese army to complete the clearing of the area – and afterward the clearance will be expanded"
The United States insists that the pilot program in Lebanon is the only solution, amid an escalation in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon over the weekend. A US State Department spokesperson told i24NEWS on Sunday that “the pilot-zone process remains the only viable path toward long-term peace and security for Lebanon and Israel.”
"We expect the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to complete the land clearing operations in the initial pilot zones, and once the clearance is verified, the process will be expanded. The disarmament of Hezbollah is an integral part of this process," the spokesperson added.
Regarding the ongoing negotiations between Israel and the Lebanese government, the spokesperson said, "The United States will continue to support the trilateral framework, in accordance with our interest in regional stability, in preventing further conflicts, and in President Trump’s agenda to promote peace between states. Hezbollah has been the main obstacle to Lebanon’s economic recovery, the sole stain on its international reputation, and the greatest threat to Lebanon’s security and stability. It bears sole responsibility for the presence of Israel on Lebanese soil. Exactly for this reason, Hezbollah must be disarmed and dismantled as an organization."
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As previously reported, the IDF Spokesperson announced Saturday night that an officer and two IDF soldiers were seriously injured as a result of a Hezbollah explosive drone strike in southern Lebanon.
In response, the IDF conducted a strike in Ansar, killing eleven people, including the Hezbollah commander who ordered the attack on IDF soldiers. While the IDF admits Hassan’s family was harmed in the strike, they were not deliberately targeted, accusing Hassan of using his family as human shields.
The Prime Minister's Office issued an unusual statement on Saturday announcing the incident, and later Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement in which he said: "The State of Israel will not tolerate any harm to its soldiers and will act forcefully against any threat."
Defense Minister Israel Katz stated: "No account in any arena will remain open. We will strongly protect our soldiers and citizens."