Mikati Hails Hezbollah’s ‘Restraint,’ No Mention of ‘Pullback’ by Hochstein

Lebanese Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has once again commended Hezbollah for its controlled response despite the significant loss of its members due to Israeli actions.

Since the Gaza war began, Israeli operations in southern Lebanon have resulted in over 200 fatalities, with Hezbollah members accounting for 147 of those deaths. Israel has shifted its military strategy to focus on targeted assassinations following three months of almost daily confrontations with Hezbollah.

In an interview with Nidaa al-Watan newspaper published on Tuesday, Mikati highlighted Hezbollah’s efforts to protect Lebanon’s interests by avoiding a full-scale war. “We see that Hezbollah is practicing restraint to preserve Lebanon’s best interest by not dragging it into open war,” he said.

Mikati also mentioned that U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein brought a feasible proposal during his recent visit to Beirut, aimed at creating relative stability along the border as a step towards lasting peace.

Contrary to some reports, Mikati clarified that Hochstein did not suggest a seven-kilometer withdrawal of Hezbollah from the border. Israel has been advocating for Hezbollah’s retreat beyond the Litani River, approximately 30 km north of the border.

During Hochstein’s visit earlier in the month, he reportedly proposed a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel and an eight-kilometer pullback by Hezbollah from the border. This measure was intended to facilitate the return of displaced people on both sides.

Mikati stated that discussions regarding the demarcation of the land border and the issue of occupied territories would be addressed once stability is reestablished at the border.