Blinken meets Mikati, sees 'real urgency' for 'diplomatic resolution' in Lebanon
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken vowed Friday to work with "real urgency" for a diplomatic resolution to end Israel's offensive in Lebanon but said it was first critical to reach understandings on disarmament of Hezbollah.
Meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in London, Blinken also pleaded for protections of civilians but stopped short of urging an immediate ceasefire by Israel, which relies on U.S. diplomatic and military support.
"We have a sense of real urgency in getting to a diplomatic resolution and the full implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, such that there can be real security along the border between Israel and Lebanon," Blinken told reporters, saying he was "intensely engaged".
Resolution 1701, approved in 2006 after an earlier war, calls for the disarmament of non-state groups in Lebanon -- an allusion to Iranian-funded Shiite movement Hezbollah, which effectively runs its own military -- and for a full Israeli withdrawal from the country.
Blinken said it was critical to "get the understandings that are necessary for the full implementation of 1701".
"The sooner we're able to do that, the sooner we're able to get a resolution," Blinken said.
He called for protections in the meantime of both civilians and Lebanese soldiers, at least 11 of whom have died since Israel launched its offensive a month ago.
"We want to make sure that in places like Beirut, there is a real effort to make sure that people are unharmed and civilians are not caught up in this crossfire," Blinken said.
The United States has called for the empowerment of the Lebanese Armed Forces and the fragile central government in Beirut so they can take charge of security and sideline Hezbollah.
Mikati, attending a conference on Lebanon on Thursday in Paris, said that only the state and Lebanese army should carry arms.
Mikati made no remarks before the press when meeting Blinken.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, meeting separately with Blinken, told him that Lebanon's government has made clear it will implement Resolution 1701.
"The aggression on Lebanon has to stop immediately. Nothing justifies its continuation," Safadi said.
25 October 2024, 13:55
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Blinkin is saying, in response to Jordanian Foreign Minister Sadadi's assertion and Berri's preferred sequence of inactions, "The United States doesn't believe the Lebanese government's words about disarming Hezbollah and complying with 1701. If you want Israel to stop the current military action in Lebanon, you will need to start implementation actions first. Ceasefire can fast follow, pending completion of additional 1701 implementation actions. But the West will not 'pressure Israel' to stop until Lebanon does what it long ago agreed it would do." "oh and, by the way, we don't consider Israel killing of a journalist who is an operative for Hezbollah to be a war crime, so you might at least try a new talk track." "What are you and Lebanon going to do?"
