Biden Calls for Lebanon Ceasefire Amid Reports of Possible Israeli Ground Incursion

WASHINGTON, September 30, 2024 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – U.S. President Joe Biden called for a ceasefire in Lebanon on Monday, urging an end to the ongoing violence between Israel and Hezbollah militants. However, a U.S. official has indicated that a ground incursion by Israeli forces into southern Lebanon could be imminent.

Speaking to reporters, Biden expressed his support for a ceasefire, stating that he was "comfortable with them (Israel) stopping" the escalation. Several of his top aides also echoed this sentiment, urging a diplomatic resolution to allow displaced residents of both Israel and Lebanon to safely return to their homes along the border.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reinforced the call for diplomacy, saying the United States would continue working with international partners to advance a peaceful solution to the conflict.

However, a U.S. official, speaking anonymously, suggested that the movement of Israeli troops indicated that a ground invasion could happen soon. The official declined to provide specific details regarding the posture of Israeli forces.

The U.S. call for de-escalation comes after two weeks of Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah, including the assassination of the group’s leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, on Friday.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield stressed the importance of diplomacy in halting the violence, saying, "We want to find a path to peace so that Palestinians, Israelis, and Lebanese living on the northern border can find security and safety."

The situation remains volatile, with both sides under international pressure to halt the conflict and pursue a diplomatic resolution.