US does not want escalation of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah

(Patria) - The US does not want further escalation of tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the State Department announced yesterday, adding that Israel has assured Washington that it wants a diplomatic solution.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told a daily press briefing that tens of thousands of Israelis in the north of the country face a real security threat that needs to be addressed, and that Washington is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the situation.

"We do not want to see either side escalate the conflict in the north. The Israeli government has said publicly, and has assured us privately, that it wants to achieve a diplomatic path.

Therefore, that is what we will continue to pursue, and that would ultimately make military action unnecessary," Miller said, Hina reports.

Miller spoke after Hezbollah said it had launched a series of missiles at an Israeli air surveillance base in response to Tel Aviv's attack on the deepest territory of Lebanon to date. There were no immediate reports of casualties from the missiles.

Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel along the southern Lebanese border almost daily since October 8, the day after Hamas's bloody attack on southern Israel, which led to an Israeli ground, air, and naval offensive on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Sunday that Israel intends to intensify attacks on Hezbollah in the event of a possible ceasefire in Gaza "until the complete withdrawal of Hezbollah" from the border.

"While we have seen the defense minister's comments, we have also noted that the defense minister and other Israeli government officials, including the prime minister, have repeatedly said publicly that they prefer the situation to be resolved diplomatically," Miller added.

Approximately 50 civilians have been killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon since October, as well as around 200 Hezbollah fighters.