Meeting with a senior Biden administration adviser, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said “the only way” for Israel to return its displaced citizens to the northern border is through military action against Hezbollah.The New York Times reports that during a meeting with a senior adviser to President Biden, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the only way for Israel to return its displaced citizens to the northern border is through military action against Hezbollah. The meeting, which took place on Monday, was an attempt to prevent the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iranian-backed militia from escalating into a broader war.

Gallant emphasized the need to change the security situation on the northern border, but did not specify what type of military action he was proposing. This statement seemed to dampen hopes of a diplomatic solution, which the White House has been seeking. The cross-border clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have been ongoing since last October, when the war in Gaza prompted the militia to launch rocket attacks on northern Israel in solidarity with Hamas.

The situation has intensified in recent months, resulting in the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the border. As Israel scales down its assault on Hamas in Gaza, it has freed up more forces for a potential offensive against Hezbollah in the north. In a statement after the meeting, Gallant reiterated that the window for a diplomatic solution was closing, as Hezbollah has aligned itself with Hamas.

Gallant also stated that he had delivered the same message to the American defense secretary, Lloyd J. Austin III, in an overnight phone call. The New York Times is currently unable to retrieve the full article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode, please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for full access.

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