Report: US and Hochstein in high-level talks to prevent Israel-Lebanon escalation

High-ranking officials from the White House, Pentagon, and U.S. State Department have engaged in extensive discussions over the past few hours to avert a major escalation between Israel and Hezbollah, according to a media report.

The report from ad-Diyar newspaper on Friday indicated that U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein participated in some of these discussions, facilitating talks with both Israeli and Lebanese officials. His aim was to de-escalate the situation and restore the previous rules of engagement.

Hochstein emphasized the potential for reaching lasting agreements on the Lebanese-Israeli border, noting that a deal in Gaza seems likely, in his view. He reiterated that the U.S. seeks to avoid an all-out war and is actively working to prevent such an outcome. He stressed the importance of restraint and the necessity to avoid an uncontrollable escalation from the Lebanese side.