Rubio on Israel-Lebanon Peace

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a peace deal between Israel and Lebanon is achievable, but identified the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as the primary obstacle. Both Israel and Lebanon desire a permanent agreement to end cycles of violence, with Israel insisting on Hezbollah's disarmament. The region has seen intensified Israeli air and ground operations in southern Lebanon following Hezbollah's missile attacks in March, which occurred during a wider U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. Over 2,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, and more than a million displaced in Lebanon, while Israel has reported casualties from Hezbollah attacks. A fragile ceasefire agreed in mid-April has been extended into May, but hostilities continue with Israel's occupation of southern Lebanon and Hezbollah's ongoing attacks. Iran links a broader ceasefire to a halt in Israeli attacks in Lebanon, a stance Washington disputes.