Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to the White House, is expected to visit Beirut today as part of U.S. efforts to ease tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
Washington fears the extension of Israel’s conflict in Gaza to other regions, amid solidarity attacks by armed groups allied with Iran in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.
Axios reported on Thursday, citing Israeli officials, that the US envoy to Lebanon had confirmed during recent talks in Tel Aviv that Israel’s transition to low-intensity operations in the Gaza Strip would help reduce tensions with Lebanon.
The website, quoting three unnamed US officials, stated that Hochstein had proposed to Israel that it issue an official statement announcing the transition to this phase.
He also informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of his desire to start indirect negotiations on demarcating the land borders between Israel and Lebanon once the current skirmishes between Israel and Hezbollah are resolved.
Hochstein expressed his willingness to conduct negotiations similar to those that led to an agreement on maritime boundaries last year.
The website quoted Israeli officials as saying that Israel does not oppose negotiations on demarcating its land borders with Lebanon.
A spokesperson for the US National Security Council said that US envoy Hochstein would visit Lebanon soon, where he is expected to meet with the Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other prominent government and military officials.
The negotiations will focus on reaching understandings on restoring calm along the borders.
Intelligence officials in the United States had warned on Thursday of the danger of Hezbollah attacking the United States, according to Politico magazine.
Two intelligence officials stated that Hezbollah’s ability to carry out attacks inside the United States exceeds that of any other group, including ISIS, which Americans have been fighting in Iraq and Syria for years.
In addition, informed officials reported that intelligence estimates indicate an increasing risk of Hezbollah launching attacks against Americans in the Middle East, or even launching an attack within the United States itself.
