Amid the risk that tensions on the Israel-Lebanon border could push the region into a full-blown conflict, the US, the European Union (EU) and many Arab countries have issued a joint call for a ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his US counterpart Joe Biden met on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss efforts to de-escalate the situation in Lebanon. (Source: AFP) |
According to a joint statement by US President Joe Biden and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the countries have been working together in recent days to make a joint call for a temporary ceasefire to create an opportunity for successful diplomacy and avoid further escalation.
This joint call has now received the approval of the EU, US, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar.
AFP news agency quoted a senior US official as saying that the countries' call for a ceasefire "is an important breakthrough for the situation in Lebanon, considering everything that has happened there."
Another US official said Lebanon and Israel were expected to decide "within the next few hours" whether to accept the call, adding: "We have had this conversation with the relevant parties and feel this is the right time."
The US also assessed that the possibility of an Israeli ground attack on Lebanon is not "imminent".
US Defense Department spokeswoman Sabrina Singh reiterated Washington's stance that there is still time and space for diplomatic efforts, stressing: "We want to see a diplomatic solution and a solution that prevents a full-blown conflict."
Earlier, France and the US proposed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon to facilitate negotiations to de-escalate tensions.
On the Israeli side, on September 25, TASS news agency quoted the country's Permanent Representative to the United Nations as saying: "If diplomacy cannot bring our citizens home, we will use all possible measures under international law to achieve our goals."
According to the diplomat, Israel "has the means and capabilities to achieve this goal."
On September 25, the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, also revealed the possibility of the country's army entering Lebanon, in the context of Israeli fighter jets bombing Hezbollah targets across the border.
"We can hear the planes here; we are attacking all day. Both to clear the way for our possible entry, and to continue attacking Hezbollah," General Halevi said.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tinh-hinh-lebanon-sap-co-hanh-dong-quyet-dinh-israel-he-lo-ke-hoach-neu-ngoai-giao-that-bai-my-tin-van-con-con-duong-tranh-guom-dao-287723.html
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