US, allies call for 21-day ceasefire between Israel-Lebanon as Biden warns of all-out-war in region

Srinagar, Sept 26: The United States, France, and several allies have called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire along the Israel-Lebanon border to allow negotiations in the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah with the former killing over 500 people including women and children in Lebanon.

On Wednesday, US President, Joe Biden said that an all-out-war is possible in the Middle East or West Asia but there was also a possibility of stopping it by settling Israel's war on Gaza.

Also on Wednesday, three countries from the region including, Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq told United Nations that Israel is pushing the region to an all-out-war.

These important statements on the international stage come after an unprecedented Israeli attack on Lebanon since last week and continuing till date.

The global body also maintained that until there was no stop to Israeli aggression in Gaza, the risk of an all-out-war will remain.

On the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, the countries said that it would apply to the Israel-Lebanon "Blue Line," the demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel, and would allow the parties to negotiate towards a potential diplomatic resolution of the conflict, a senior Biden administration official said, Reuters reported.

"We call on all parties, including the governments of Israel and Lebanon, to endorse the temporary ceasefire immediately," according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House.

The allies that signed the joint statement included Australia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and the European Union.

Israel's military chief said a ground assault was possible, raising fears the conflict could spark a wider Middle East war.

The official said Biden had been focused on the possibility of a ceasefire "in almost every conversation he had with world leaders" at the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Based on discussions with Israelis and Lebanese, the U.S. and its allies felt this was the right time for a call for a ceasefire, the official added.

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati welcomed the call for a ceasefire, saying the key to its implementation is whether Israel is committed to enforcing international resolutions. Asked earlier if a ceasefire could be reached soon, Mikati told Reuters: "Hopefully, yes."

World leaders voiced concern that the conflict - running in parallel to Israel's war in Gaza against Palestinian Hamas militants was escalating rapidly as the death toll rose in Lebanon and thousands fled their homes.

Earlier on Wednesday Israel shot down a missile that the Hezbollah said it had aimed at the headquarters of the Mossad intelligence agency near Israel's biggest city, Tel Aviv.

Israeli officials said a heavy missile had headed towards civilian areas in Tel Aviv, not the Mossad HQ, before being shot down.

"You hear the jets overhead; we have been striking all day," General Herzi Halevi told Israeli troops on the border with Lebanon, according to a military statement.

"This is both to prepare the ground for your possible entry and to continue degrading Hezbollah." A Pentagon spokesperson said an Israeli ground incursion did not appear imminent.

As many as half a million people may have been displaced in Lebanon, its foreign minister said. In Beirut, thousands of people displaced from southern Lebanon were sheltering in schools and other buildings.