Joint Saudi-American diplomacy reduced Lebanon escalation, report says

Joint Saudi-American diplomatic efforts over the past 24 hours have succeeded in de-escalating tensions in southern Lebanon following direct U.S. engagement with Israel, local media reported.

U.S. sources told al-Jadeed that meetings between American and Saudi officials focused on the Lebanese file, with Riyadh backing the Lebanese government's demands to secure a permanent solution.

A separate report published Wednesday in Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said that President Joseph Aoun had intensively urged U.S. officials to press Israel into halting its military campaign.

According to ministerial sources close to the president, Washington responded by contacting Israeli officials to contain the escalation in southern Lebanon.

The diplomatic outreach involved U.S. Ambassador to Beirut Michel Issa, alongside Lebanese Ambassador to Washington Nada Hamadeh Moawad, the daily said.