U.S. assessments are that Iran will not seek to disrupt ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Doha aimed at ending the Hamas-Israel war.
Those technical talks could stretch into the weekend, but it is unclear how long Iran and its proxies may hold off.
A U.S. official confirmed to CBS News that Israel was responsible for Haniyeh’s killing, though Israel has not publicly acknowledged it.
A U.K. official told CBS News, “Our core focus is diplomatic efforts and de-escalation.
A French official also told CBS News, “We’ve been calling on all actors in the region to de-escalate.
This week, President Biden sent three of his top Middle East advisers, including CIA Director Bill Burns, along with a wave of combat aircraft and warships to the region in an attempt to stall Iranian and Hezbollah military retaliation against Israel. By using the extra time, he hopes to forge an escape route from the collision course that could ultimately spark a regional conflict that could involve the United States. s. forces.
U. S. According to estimates, Iran won’t try to sabotage the ongoing Doha cease-fire talks that are intended to put an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. It is unclear how long Iran and its proxies may delay these technical discussions, which may go into the weekend. John Kirby, the spokesperson for the National Security Council, warned reporters on Thursday that there could be “little or no warning, and certainly could come in the coming days” in the event of an Iranian attack. “.
The killing of top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut in July and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran two weeks ago have prompted both Iran and its proxy force Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon, to vow retaliation, though they have not stated when or how. Israel claimed Shukr was killed in an airstrike. A U. s. Even though Israel hasn’t acknowledged it in public, an official told CBS News that Israel was accountable for Haniyeh’s murder.
Iran’s government, however, is still debating internally whether to carry out a covert intelligence operation or to use military force, as it did on April 13 when it launched hundreds of drones and missiles towards Israel, according to multiple sources in the area who spoke with CBS News. Furthermore, sources told CBS that Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, who is based in Lebanon, does not want to act against Iran’s wishes but also does not want to engage in a more protracted battle with Israel. The ‘U. S. believes Hezbollah has the ability to strike with little to no notice.
The US. s. Limiting the risk of a regional escalation has been the goal of diplomacy, which includes indirect outreach to Tehran through other governments and to Hezbollah through politicians in Beirut. Hezbollah may not confine itself to military targets inside Israel this time, according to Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN, which told CBS News earlier this month. Instead, the group may aim “broader and deeper” within Israeli territory at civilian targets. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) estimated in 2021 that Hezbollah possessed as many as 150,000 missiles and rockets, some of which had long ranges and could penetrate deep into Israeli territory, potentially overwhelming Israel’s anti-missile defense system.
On Wednesday, during a press conference in Beirut, U. S. After 10 months of cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, special envoy Amos Hochstein revealed that the main goal of the Biden strategy is to use this short window of time to persuade Israel and Hamas to agree to a cease-fire and hostage release in the Gaza Strip. This could then help prevent a war in Lebanon.
NSC Director Brett McGurk was in Cairo early this week and thereafter traveled to Doha, Qatar, to assist in hammering out implementation details, as part of a furious effort to transform the Biden administration’s Gaza cease-fire framework into a workable agreement. With the U.S. S. Serving as a mediator, Burns oversaw negotiations in Doha between Egypt’s intelligence chief Abbas Kamel, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Israel’s Mossad director David Barnea.
The US. S. is anticipated to make a final bridge proposal, as explained by U. s. As a result, all hostages were eventually freed, polio was contained through vaccination campaigns, water and electricity were restored to displaced Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, and efforts to help end hostilities in Lebanon were made possible, according to Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. According to figures released today by the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, 40,000 Palestinians have died in the brutal 10-month conflict.
If nothing else works, the U.S. S. additionally intends to use allies to defend Israel in a parallel strategy akin to the one Iran used to attack Israel on April 13.
In the course of that springtime assault, U. G. Military aircraft were called in to support U.S. s. and coalition forces stationed in the area as part of the anti-ISIS coalition presence in Syria and Iraq. Should Iran conduct an identical attack this time, the new U. G. It is anticipated that government will play a similar part. An A. G. An official stated to CBS News, “De-escalation and diplomatic efforts are our main priorities. But naturally, we also maintain constant communication with the U.S. and are prepared to defend Israel. s. as well as allies on possible outcomes, such as active assistance to backfill U. s. works the same way as it did in April. ****.
Additionally, a French official said to CBS News, “All parties involved in the area have been urged to defuse the situation. Our strong diplomatic and military ties with the US allow us to jointly assess and monitor the situation in the region. “.
In parallel with the discussions in Doha, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne met with heads of state, including those close to Hezbollah, on Thursday in Lebanon “to support the ongoing diplomatic efforts in favor of de-escalation in the region,” he said on X.
The Doha meeting’s scheduling—four days before the Democratic National Convention kicks off—further emphasizes how important it is to the Biden-Harris administration to put an end to the carnage and free the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, including the five Americans who are still missing. Polling indicates that the humanitarian cost of the war has struck a particularly deep chord with progressive, Black, Arab, and Muslim voters in the United States. The conflict has had an impact on domestic politics. The U family. s. On July 17, hostage Omer Neutra spoke at the Republican National Convention, pleading for increased public pressure.
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