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US special presidential envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in the region in the next hours amidst high tensions and growing risks of escalation, as Iran and its Lebanese proxy, Hezbollah, are set to retaliate to Israel’s assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and a top Hezbollah military commander in southern Beirut.
Hochstein, is expected to visit Beirut on Wednesday, after holding talks with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv.
According to An Nahar newspaper, he will arrive in Beirut from Israel on Wednesday and meet with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday.
“In his visits to Ain El-Tineh (parliament Speaker’s seat), Hochstein always presents ideas with a threatening content,” says a security source requesting anonymity.
In an interview with This is Beirut, the source affirms that “Hochstein will set an equation which conveys the Israeli perspective, saying that Hezbollah is responsible for opening this supportive front for Gaza, therefore the party should either halt fire or bear the consequences.”
MTV Television indicates that Hochstein will carry a stern message to Lebanese and Israeli officials, that there is no room for maneuvering, and that the war will be detrimental to both sides.
According to the security source, “if both sides do not resort to negotiations, it will cost them a lot of blood and destruction, and negotiations would be halted.”
Hochstein will propose that Hezbollah hands over the region south of the Litani to the Lebanese government, in the event that a ceasefire in Gaza is reached.
According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Hochstein is visiting Beirut to “try to prevent Hezbollah from responding to Israel, without conveying any solution to the crisis.”
However, Hochstein’s visit to Beirut will be directly linked to the answers he will get in Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be turned to Cairo, where crucial ceasefire negotiations are to be held later this week.
