Hochstein, who met with senior Lebanese leaders and security officials, delivered a firm message: Hezbollah’s ongoing rocket fire must stop to preserve diplomatic space. “The time available for de-escalation is not open-ended,” he said, underlining US concerns over a broader regional conflict.

According to Lebanese sources, Hochstein presented updated intelligence showing intensified Israeli military preparedness in the north and conveyed that US restraint could shift if diplomatic overtures are ignored. Washington, he said, expects the Lebanese state to rein in Hezbollah or face the consequences of unchecked escalation.

The visit follows weeks of border tensions and Israeli strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, as well as counterattacks by the group in northern Israel.

Trump’s Strategy Aligns With Israeli Red Lines

The envoy’s tone reflects a hardening US stance, reportedly endorsed by Trump himself. According to diplomatic sources, the White House now sees further Hezbollah provocation as a red line that could trigger joint US-Israeli military action. Trump has previously said he will not allow another “Iranian front” to open in Lebanon.

While Hochstein reiterated support for Lebanon’s stability and called for restraint from all sides, he stressed that American diplomacy must be backed by credible deterrence. “Washington supports a ceasefire, but not at any cost,” he told interlocutors in Beirut.