US may signal green light for IDF to expand operations in Lebanon: Israeli Media
Tel Aviv, June 1
As the security situation continues to evolve between Israel and Lebanon, the United States has signalled that it does not expect Israel to absorb attacks against its civilians, thus giving a green light to the country's military for escalating operations in Beirut-- according to a report by the Jerusalem Post.
As per the Israeli outlet, citing two sources, it reported that senior Israeli officials approached Washington over the weekend seeking approval to expand the IDF's campaign, amid ongoing cross-border hostilities.
The United States "does not expect Israel to absorb ongoing attacks on its civilians by a terrorist organisation," a US official told The Jerusalem Post on Monday following reports that Israel was seeking US approval for an expanded operation in Beirut, Lebanon.
"The fastest way to de-escalate and protect civilians on all sides is for Hezbollah to stop firing immediately," the official said.
According to the sources, Israeli officials were hopeful that Washington's would be favourable, given the lack of progress in both the negotiations between Washington and Tehran and the talks between Israel and Lebanon.
The official further mentioned that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposed a framework to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun for de-escalating hostilities.
According to the official, the framework called on Hezbollah to stop all its attacks on Israel, with the IDF avoiding an escalation of its Beirut only in return for that initiative.
The framework would thus create conditions for a gradual de-escalation of tensions and an effective cessation of hostilities, the official further noted.
As per the Jerusalem Post, Aoun attempted to advance the proposal and secure an agreement. However, the response from Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri was evasive and disappointing.
It was reported that while Berri claimed he could "guarantee" Hezbollah's commitment to a ceasefire, he put it on Israel to cease fire first.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is a mess. The US "framework" sounds like a demand for Hezbollah to stop first, but Israel gets to keep hitting Beirut until then? That's not a ceasefire—it's an ultimatum. The lack of trust between these groups is so deep that no external deal will stick unless both sides actually want peace. The civilians in Lebanon and Israel both suffer. 😔
As an observer from India, this reminds me of how regional conflicts spiral when the big powers only push one side to de-escalate. Hezbollah's attacks must stop—no one justifies terrorism. But Israel's constant expansionism isn't helping either. The US should be pressuring both to talk, not just giving a "green light" for more bombings. We need more South African-style mediations, not superpower dictate.
Israel has every right to defend itself after Hezbollah attacks—any country would retaliate. The US is right to back them. But the problem is that escalation rarely ends quickly; it just creates more cycles of violence. I just hope the IDF is precise and doesn't cause massive civilian casualties, because that fuels more extremism. India knows this from our own experiences. 🇮🇳💪
"Hezbollah should stop first" says the US, while Israel expands into more areas. That's like telling a mouse to stop moving while the cat keeps chasing it. Sad to see how diplomacy is reduced to power dynamics. Lebanon's President Aoun seemed genuine, but if Speaker Berri is giving evasive replies, peace gets harder. The real losers are the common people. 😢
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