US Urges Calm After Deadly Explosions in Lebanon Attributed to Israel, Speaks of Limited Ability to Prevent Escalation

The US has called for a cooling of tensions following a series of deadly explosions in Lebanon, which the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has blamed on Israel, Al Jazeera reports.

While expressing concern about the incidents, the Biden administration outlined its commitment to finding a peaceful solution and suggested that it has limited ability to directly intervene in the situation.

A spokesperson for the State Department, Matthew Miller, said that the US was not involved in the attack and had not been notified about it beforehand.

“Our overall policy remains consistent, which is, we want to see a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah,” Miller said. “We are always concerned about any type of event that may cause further escalation.”

However, when asked if the US could use its military aid and diplomatic support to Israel to prevent a wider conflict, Miller indicated that the responsibility lies with all parties involved.

“It’s a primary concern for Israel. It’s a concern for Hezbollah, but it’s a concern for all of the countries in the region about what kind of future they want to build,” he said.

The explosions, which killed at least nine people, including an eight-year-old girl, and injured over 2,750, were triggered by handheld pagers detonated across Lebanon. Hezbollah, which has been exchanging fire with Israel since the start of the Gaza war, accused Israel of being responsible for the blasts and vowed to retaliate.

While declining to directly comment on the explosions, Miller emphasized the US stance that “no country, no organization should be targeting civilians.”

These events come amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians and left the coastal enclave in ruins. Rights groups have urged the Biden administration to apply pressure on Israel to end the conflict, accusing Washington of failing to use its influence with its ally to prevent further bloodshed.

Amidst the escalating tensions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is currently in the Middle East, having arrived in Egypt on Wednesday for meetings with mediators to push for a ceasefire in Gaza, according to AFP.