Hochstein visits Beirut, calls for 'restoring calm' on southern border

U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein on Tuesday said "restoring calm on the southern border" of Lebanon with Israel is "of utmost importance to the United States."

"It should be the highest priority for both Lebanon and Israel," Hochstein urged after meeting Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh after he arrived in Lebanon on a surprise visit.

"The United States cares about Lebanon and the Lebanese people, especially during these difficult times," he said.

"The United States does not want to see the conflict in Gaza escalating and expanding to Lebanon," Hochstein stressed, while calling on all parties to "fully implement" U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

Hochstein later met with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and said that he has sensed from his talks that both Lebanon and Israel do not want to escalate the situation.

He also met with Lebanon’s former intelligence chief, Abbas Ibrahim, who had negotiated hostage cases in the past. Ibrahim returned Monday from Qatar. The Gulf state has become a key intermediary over the fate of some 240 hostages held by Hamas.

Ibrahim said recently that he is playing a role in the hostage situation but refused to go into detail, adding that he is in contact with Hamas and U.S. officials.

"Hochstein's visit was decided days ago, specifically after the speech that was delivered by Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah," MTV reported, noting that the visit is aimed at "avoiding war, especially after the Israeli enemy's latest escalation through attacking civilians, as happened on Sunday, which changed the specified rules of engagement."