Israel will not be able to safely repatriate its citizens in the northern regions by engaging in a full-scale conflict with Hezbollah or Iran, according to White House national security spokesperson John Kirby, who spoke on Sunday.
Israel intensified its strikes in Lebanon on Sunday, targeting Hezbollah with fresh assaults following the killing of the Iran-backed group's leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah. Israel's declared objective is to ensure the safety of its northern territories from Hezbollah's rocket attacks and to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced residents.
"An all-out war with Hezbollah, particularly with Iran, is not the solution. If the goal is to bring those people back home safely and sustainably, we believe that a diplomatic approach is the correct path," Kirby stated on CNN.
The United States is monitoring Hezbollah's efforts to address its leadership void and is in ongoing discussions with Israel to determine the appropriate next steps, Kirby added.
Lebanon's Health Ministry reports that over 1,000 Lebanese have been killed and 6,000 injured in the past two weeks. The government estimates that a million people—one-fifth of the population—have fled their homes.
