Lebanon says it is ready to talk with Israel to end fighting as war in Iran intensifies.
Steve Inskip, Host:
This is what a war against Iran looks like from your neighborhood gas pump. Gas prices have gone up. Stock prices are down, or, they were down until yesterday afternoon when President Trump suddenly talked about ending the war. Before markets closed at 4 p.m., the president told CBS that the war was “pretty much done,” and stocks immediately soared. A billion dollar value that disappeared reappeared.
Later, the president gave a news conference in which he declared victory in the war and said the United States could go after more targets. So we don’t know how this war will end, but so far we have some idea of its destruction. Iranian health officials have argued that the US and Israeli campaign killed 1,200 people. Lebanese officials reported 500 deaths in the Israeli attack. And we move on to Lebanon, where NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi is covering this from Beirut. Hi, Hadeel.
HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, BYLINE: Good morning.
INSKEEP: Well, so we heard from President Trump. What do you hear from the other side in this war?
Al-Shalchi: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says President Trump is trying to put “psychological pressure” on Iran. And he vowed to continue to stand up to US and Israeli aggression with “courage and strong will.” It said Iranian armed forces were waiting for the US Navy in the Strait of Hormuz. Elsewhere in the region the response was fairly muted. But we know that the Gulf is calling for an end to the war and a return to negotiations. Oil prices soared yesterday as Iran targeted oil installations in the Gulf.
INSKEEP: Now, where you are, in Beirut, we know there have been Israeli airstrikes. Israeli ground forces have moved into southern Lebanon. And Lebanon’s president wants direct talks with Israel. What does that mean?
Al-Shalchi: Yes, so Lebanon and Israel have been at war for decades. The first direct talk was just three months ago, in fact. And then yesterday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called for more direct talks with Israel and an end to the bombing. He again asked for help from the international community to provide equipment and what he called logistical support to the Lebanese armed forces to help the Lebanese government’s campaign to disarm and distance itself from Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group that operates mainly from southern Lebanon.
Now, just last week, Lebanese security officials have actually issued arrest warrants — unprecedented — for those they believe fired rockets into Israel, which dragged Lebanon into this war. And the justice minister proposed to the Lebanese cabinet to issue an arrest warrant for Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem. Now, these are some of the strongest condemnations of the Lebanese state against Hezbollah.
But again, whether they are able to follow through remains to be seen. You know, the Lebanese army says it’s out of Hezbollah. And there are indeed questions about the political will within the military to go through with disarmament.
INSKEEP: So how has Israel responded to this Lebanese peace effort?
AL-SHALCHI: So an official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatic affairs, told NPR that Israel is seeing positive signs in its approach to Hezbollah from the Lebanese government, but the war will go on and on. The official said that Hezbollah was showing that it still has its capabilities with the rocket fire towards Tel Aviv yesterday. He said Israel has no patience to enter a war with Hezbollah every few months.
But let’s remember that Israel has been attacking southern Lebanon for 15 months, despite a ceasefire brokered last year. The Israeli military is also pushing further into Lebanese soil. And Lebanon fears a wider ground invasion.
INSKEEP: Now let’s talk about Iran. Of course, the Israeli campaign will continue there. The US campaign will continue there. They have a new supreme leader. President Trump has also talked about assassinating him. What are the Israelis saying?
Al-Shalchi: The Israelis are a little tight-lipped about that particular point. In a post on social media yesterday, Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted a photo of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holding a gun with his son, who is the new supreme leader. And the title is, Like Father Like Son. But when asked if Mojtaba Khamenei should be worried, an Israeli military spokesman said he would not comment on specific targets and said, “Leave some room for surprise.” We know the war will continue. Bombs fell on Tehran just this morning.
INSKEEP: NPR’s Hadeel Al-Shalchi. Thank you very much.
Al-Shalchi: You are welcome.
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