Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati met in Beirut with US envoy Amos Hochstein, who arrived in the Middle East to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah.
"We are not interested in escalation. It is necessary to stop Israeli aggression and restore calm at the border. We urge to prevent escalation and uphold Lebanese sovereignty," Mikati said after the meeting.
On June 17, Hochstein met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The details of their conversation have not been disclosed, but it also focused on the situation at the Lebanese-Israeli border.
The US has leverage over Israel and Lebanon but no diplomatic means to pressure Hezbollah. However, the actions of the Lebanese group and the decisions of its Iranian backers largely determine whether there will be war.
