Israeli military operation ‘inevitable’ if diplomatic efforts fail, Gantz warns The leaders of France, the US, UK, and Germany on Thursday issued a joint statement calling for a de-escalation BEIRUT: Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister has welcomed a call by the leaders of four Western powers to “preserve stability” in the country amid growing fears of a major Israeli military assault. Najib Mikati said on Friday: “We highly value this stance that supports Lebanon and calls for united efforts to stop the escalation.” The leaders of France, the US, UK, and Germany on Thursday issued a joint statement calling for a de-escalation in tensions along the border between Lebanon and Israel in line with UN peacekeeping resolutions. The statement was issued as the leaders took part in commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy during the Second World War. Mikati added: “Our priority is to communicate with Lebanon’s friends worldwide and in decision-making countries to stop the escalation and the Israeli hostilities in southern Lebanon.” Confrontations between the Israeli army and Hezbollah entered their ninth month this week. Hostilities have intensified in recent days, with the use of heavy rockets and threats by Israel to launch a full-scale military assault amid the diplomatic deadlock. Mikati said that diplomatic efforts in the past had protected Lebanon from Israeli attempts to escalate the conflict. The statement issued by the four Western leaders emphasized the need to work on avoiding regional escalation, he added. Despite the statement, Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz resumed his threats against Lebanon. He warned on Friday that an Israeli military operation in Lebanon was inevitable if diplomatic efforts failed. Israel would not hesitate to use force if the threats faced by northern villages continued, he said. Hezbollah on Thursday targeted Israeli warplanes with air defense missiles for the first time, a move widely seen as a dangerous security development. In a statement, Hezbollah said that “these missiles were launched toward planes that violated our airspace and breached the sound barrier in an attempt to scare children.” Hezbollah claimed that the missiles forced the planes to abandon their missions. Quoting senior US and Israeli officials, the Israeli Walla news website said that US President Joe Biden’s administration had warned Israel against starting a limited war with Lebanon, citing potential Iranian intervention. Washington told Israel that a “limited war” in Lebanon or a “small regional war” is not a realistic option because of the risk that it will spin out of control, the website added. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for “a halt to the mutual attacks between Israel and Hezbollah along the border,” while expressing concern over the risk of a “wider conflict with devastating consequences to the region.” On a related note, Mohammed Ayyad, the Hezbollah member accused of killing an Irish peacekeeper, failed to appear before the military tribunal on Friday. Ayyad and others are alleged to have fired on a UNIFIL vehicle in Aaqbiye that was heading to Beirut on Dec. 15, 2022, killing the driver and wounding some passengers. He was released on bail six months after being detained. Medical reports were submitted to the court stating that Ayyad has a “terminal illness.” The trial was postponed until February next year. Ayyad, along with four others who allegedly took part in the incident, are being tried in absentia.