WASHINGTON. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has voiced its opposition to the extensive scope of Israel’s airstrikes in Beirut, as civilian casualties continue to mount and concerns grow over a potential escalation involving Iran.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that the U.S. had raised its concerns with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration regarding the ongoing air campaign. “When it comes to the scope and nature of the bombing campaign that we saw in Beirut over the past few weeks, it’s something that we made clear to the government of Israel we had concerns with, and we were opposed to,” Miller told reporters, adopting a more critical tone than previous statements from Washington.
The Israeli military’s ongoing operations, which began two weeks ago, have expanded to affect over a quarter of Lebanon’s territory, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The incursions are part of Israel’s efforts to weaken Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group operating in Lebanon, which Israel blames for a series of deadly attacks. These operations follow the killing of senior Hezbollah leaders, including its longtime secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, a development seen as the biggest blow to the group in decades.
Despite calls from Western nations, including France, for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as well as in Gaza, the U.S. continues to express its unwavering support for Israel. In addition to its vocal backing, the U.S. is sending anti-missile systems and deploying troops to bolster Israel’s defenses.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin have also communicated with Israeli officials, urging them to take concrete steps to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. U.S. officials said the Israeli government was asked to implement specific measures within 30 days.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant against international pressure for a ceasefire. During a phone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, Netanyahu expressed his opposition to any unilateral halt to the conflict and criticized Macron’s proposal for a Lebanon-focused conference. According to an Israeli government statement, Netanyahu told Macron, “A reminder to the French President: It was not a UN decision that established the State of Israel but the victory that was achieved in the War of Independence.”
The French government has yet to respond to Netanyahu’s remarks, but this exchange adds to the diplomatic tensions between the two leaders, who have previously clashed over France’s stance on halting arms sales to Israel.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community remains divided on how best to address the growing crisis in Lebanon and Gaza, with the U.S. facing increased scrutiny over its role in the region.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
