US says it’s still working ‘tirelessly’ for Gaza cease-fire deal

WASHINGTON (AA) – The US continues to “work tirelessly” to conclude a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner exchange deal after Israel and Hezbollah exchanged intense cross-border fire overnight, an official said Sunday.

“A cease-fire in Gaza could also help to reduce tensions along the Blue Line (that marks the frontier between southern Lebanon and northern Israel), creating conditions for displaced Lebanese civilians to go home in the south and for Israeli civilians to go home in their north,” a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu in response to a question about Israel-Hezbollah tensions.

The spokesperson said the US is “tracking” developments in Israel and Lebanon as they remain in touch with their Israeli counterparts and partners throughout the region.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad and unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including Hizballah. Our embassies in both Israel and Lebanon are maintaining their regular schedules and stand ready to assist any American citizens and their families in need of assistance,” the spokesperson added, using an alternative spelling for “Hezbollah.”

Hezbollah announced Sunday that it had launched hundreds of rockets and drones deep into Israel overnight as part of the “first phase” of its response to Tel Aviv’s assassination of its senior commander, Fuad Shukr, late last month in the capital Beirut.

The announcement came shortly after the Israeli army attacked southern Lebanon with large-scale airstrikes.

Hezbollah called the Israeli claims of carrying out “preemptive strikes” “empty” and inconsistent with the actual situation on the ground.