WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden stated on Friday that he is working to facilitate the safe return of residents to their homes along the Israeli-Lebanon border.
This comes amid escalating tensions following a series of explosions targeting the Hezbollah members.
Biden emphasized the importance of continuing efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza to promote regional stability, despite reports suggesting his administration has lost hope for a truce before he leaves office in January.
At a cabinet meeting, Biden expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety of people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, saying, “We’re going to keep at it until we get it done, but we’ve got a way to go.”
Biden’s statement is the first reaction since the violence shifted dramatically from Gaza to Lebanon, with thousands of Hezbollah operatives’ pagers and walkie-talkies exploding earlier this week. The blasts- which Hezbollah blamed on Israel- killed at least 37 people including children and injured thousands others. Israel has not commented on these events.
The ongoing conflict has led to numerous border clashes, causing hundreds of casualties in Lebanon, primarily among fighters, and dozens in Israel, displacing thousands on both sides.
Biden also refuted claims that achieving a ceasefire to end the ongoing war in Gaza is unrealistic, stating, “A lot of things don’t look realistic until we get them done. We have to keep at it.”
