US official urges Hezbollah to allow displaced's return, reconstruction instead of 'pointless war'

A U.S. official has called on Hezbollah to cease its involvement in what is described as a "pointless and destructive conflict" and instead facilitate the return of displaced populations and the reconstruction of Lebanon. The official asserted that Hezbollah faces a clear choice: continue the conflict or allow for peace and rebuilding.

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Hezbollah has a simple choice: it can continue fighting a pointless war, or it can finally allow the return of the displaced and the reconstruction of Lebanon.

Speaking to the U.S. news portal Axios, the official presented the terms of a ceasefire agreement, reached recently in Washington, as fair and consented to by both sovereign governments involved. This agreement, however, has been rejected by Hezbollah. The official placed exclusive blame on Hezbollah for any ongoing hostilities, reiterating U.S. support for Israel's right to self-defense and for the legitimate Lebanese government's efforts to improve the lives of its citizens.

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the terms on the table are fair, have the consent of both sovereign governments, and provide a clear path to end the fighting.

"Hezbollah must stop firing immediately and allow these agreements to take effect," the official urged. The U.S. representative also accused Hezbollah of "cynically us[ing] civilian infrastructure, particularly civilian homes, to hide and store weapons." This practice, the official emphasized, endangers Lebanese civilians and their property, stating that "All weapons must belong to the Government of Lebanon."

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Hezbollah is exclusively to blame for any continuation of hostilities.

The official further stressed that the United States fully supports Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ongoing process, according to the official, is designed to sustainably enable Lebanon to function as a sovereign state, which would ultimately benefit Israel's security.

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Hezbollah must stop firing immediately and allow these agreements to take effect.