U.S Envoy heads to Beirut to ease Israel-Hezbollah tensions

U.S. special envoy Amos Hochstein is scheduled to arrive in Beirut on Wednesday, on a crucial visit to de-escalate tensions between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

READ ALSO:Taming the brewing tension in the Middle East 

The visits according to Lebanese Government sources was to calm the nerves after pro-Iranian Hezbollah organization has sworn revenge for the killing of its military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut two weeks ago by Israel.

A large-scale barrage by Hezbollah on Israel, perhaps in coordination with an attack by Iran, has been expected for days.

Shukr was killed hours before Ismail Haniyeh, chief of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, was killed in Tehran on July 31.

The sources said that Israel had claimed responsibility for the attack on Shukr but has neither confirmed nor denied a role in Haniyeh’s death.

In Beirut, Hochstein is set to meet with House Speaker Nabih Berri, a close ally of Hezbollah, and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

READ ALSO:Tension over assault on Catholic priest in Taraba

The U.S. envoy has been trying to find a diplomatic solution between Israel and Hezbollah for months, although his recurrent visits to the region have yet to lead to calm along Lebanon’s southern border.

Since the war began in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, there have been daily clashes between the Israeli army, Hezbollah and allied groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

There have been casualties on both sides and many residents in both countries have left their homes because of the fighting.

In 2022, Hochstein mediated a deal on the maritime border in the Mediterranean between Israel and Lebanon.

READ ALSO:Israel pounds Gaza ahead of ceasefire talks