The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is not inevitable and expressed Washington’s hope for a diplomatic resolution. Austin made these remarks during a joint press conference held in Manila on Tuesday, July 30. Prior to that, he had engaged in security talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as well as their Filipino counterparts Gilberto Teodoro and Enrique Manalo.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday, July 28, that Hezbollah in Lebanon launched a rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers on a soccer field. The ministry condemned this act as crossing all red lines, stating, “Saturday’s massacre is Hezbollah’s crossing of all red lines, it is not one army against another but a terrorist organization deliberately firing at civilians.”
Hezbollah denied responsibility for the deadly attack. Iran, a supporter of Hezbollah, warned Israel on Sunday that any new military “adventures” in Lebanon could lead to “unforeseen consequences.”
The UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon and the head of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon issued a joint statement on Sunday urging maximum restraint from both Lebanon and Israel.
The White House released a statement on Sunday condemning the terrorist attack, attributing it to Hezbollah, stating, “This attack was carried out by Hezbollah in Lebanon, it was their rockets fired from the area they control.”
The White House also mentioned ongoing discussions with Israeli and Lebanese officials regarding the “terrible” attack since it occurred. Additionally, the US government is actively seeking a diplomatic solution to end the conflict on the Israel-Lebanon border.
Tensions in the Middle East have been high since Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7 last year, sparking a war in Gaza. The latest attack on Saturday, believed to be initiated by Hezbollah in support of Hamas, has raised concerns of a wider conflict erupting in the region.