By Enyichukwu Enemanna
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday met with Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikati where discussions bordered around Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah in the country.
Blinken met with the Prime Minister in London on his way back from a Middle East tour. Mikati had on Thursday arrived from a conference in Paris.
Media report says the duo smiled before the cameras but made no remarks.
Washington is Israel’s main political and military ally. It has repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire following months of bombardment by Israel against the Lebanon-backed Hezbollah militia group.
“We have been very clear that this cannot lead, should not lead to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger UN peacekeepers or the Lebanese Armed Forces,” Blinken who called for a quick diplomatic solution said Thursday in Doha.
The United States has urged Lebanese authorities to take charge of security and for the disarmament of Hezbollah.
Heritage Times HT recalls that the militia group has fired missiles at Israel in solidarity with Hamas since the Palestinian militants’ October 7, 2023 attack, which triggered Israel’s massive military assault in Gaza.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a call to his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Wednesday expressed concern over Israeli strikes on the Lebanese army which have killed at least 11 Lebanese soldiers.
