Rubio: "The War in Lebanon Can't End if Hezbollah Keeps Firing Missiles"

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a round of meetings today (Tuesday) in several Persian Gulf countries. He also addressed for the first time the agreement between the United States and Iran, making clear that "it is impossible to end the conflicts in the region if Iran's proxies continue to launch missiles."

In a statement he delivered upon arriving in the United Arab Emirates, the American secretary said that "Hezbollah must stop its attacks on IDF forces in southern Lebanon." He also added: "The Lebanon file must be separate from the Iran file. The United States will act directly מול the Lebanese government on this issue. This is a matter that will come up at the appropriate time.".

At the same time as Rubio's statement, reports from Lebanon said that Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem stated: "We thank Iran, which did not agree to end the war waged against it except together with the end of the war in Lebanon."

It should be noted that another round of talks between Israel and Lebanon began today at the U.S. State Department in Washington. Israel is prepared to withdraw from several areas in southern Lebanon, into which the Lebanese army will enter under American supervision. The Lebanese government noted that Israel must withdraw from Lebanon, but criticized the United States for the decision to link the Lebanese issue to Iran. According to government sources in Lebanon, that connection strengthens Hezbollah and allows Iran to continue to "hold on" to Lebanon.

Rubio also addressed the negotiations with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz. In response to Iran's announcement that it would charge a toll for passage through the strait, Rubio replied, "No country is permitted to do that in international waters. That is existing law."