US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf warned that Iran-backed Hezbollah is leading Lebanon into a dangerous situation.
“We look forward to the Lebanese state monopolizing its weapons and Hezbollah becoming a political party,” she added.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia, she said, “We demand Iran to stop arming groups in the region such as the Houthis and Hezbollah,” noting that her administration has channels of communication with Iran and is urging it to avoid escalation.
She pointed out that Iran has supplied the Houthis with weapons to target ships and civilians, emphasizing that the threats to navigation by the Houthis cannot be stopped overnight.
The US Assistant Secretary of State considered Israel to be a sovereign state and its duty to pursue Hamas. “We do not dictate any party’s action, but we send serious messages,” she said, emphasizing that the only solution is the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Leaf revealed that there is a new ceasefire proposal on the table awaiting Hamas’s response.
“We seek a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to release detainees and deliver aid,” she said, adding that it is unacceptable to conduct a military operation in Rafah before civilians are relocated to safe locations.
