Hochstein meets Berri following Israel talks

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein met with Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri in Beirut on Tuesday to discuss the escalating tensions along the Lebanese-Israeli border. This meeting followed discussions in Jerusalem with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.

Since the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel, which triggered a conflict in the Gaza Strip, Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, have engaged in frequent cross-border fire. The situation escalated last week when Hezbollah launched its largest simultaneous attack following the killing of a senior commander by an Israeli strike.

Hochstein’s visit to Jerusalem included talks with Netanyahu and his team, shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a Middle East tour, emphasized that a Gaza ceasefire was the best solution to mitigate Hezbollah-Israel violence.

David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesman, confirmed Hochstein’s meeting with Netanyahu and stated that Hezbollah had launched over 5,000 rockets, anti-tank missiles, and explosive drones into Israeli territory since the hostilities began. Mencer stressed that Israel’s actions were defensive and there were no territorial disputes with Lebanon.

Hochstein also met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog to discuss the continuous rocket and missile attacks from Hezbollah, which Israel attributes to Iranian instigation.

Hezbollah reported that it had carried out more than 2,100 military operations against Israel since October 8, intensifying their attacks after the death of commander Taleb Abdallah in an Israeli strike. In response, Hezbollah launched extensive rocket and missile barrages and used attack drones against Israeli positions.

On Monday, the Israeli military announced the killing of Mohammad Mustafa Ayoub, a key Hezbollah operative involved in the group’s rocket and missile operations in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed Ayoub’s death, identifying him as a member of its elite Radwan unit.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari warned that Hezbollah’s increasing aggression could lead to a wider escalation, potentially causing severe consequences for Lebanon and the entire region.

The United Nations has voiced concern over the escalating violence on the Israel-Lebanon border, cautioning that miscalculations could lead to a broader conflict.