AA / Washington / Michael Hernandez
The White House said Thursday it does not support a new war in Lebanon, stressing that restoring calm along the border is a “highest priority” as tensions continue between Israel and Hezbollah.
Israel has launched airstrikes against Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon, most recently killing 18 civilians and medics in airstrikes on Habarieh, Baalbek and Nakura on Wednesday. These cities are located in eastern Lebanon, with Baalbek being the northernmost.
In response, Hezbollah fired rockets, killing one person in Israel.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the United States is closely monitoring hostilities along the border, stressing that the Biden administration “has been very clear that we are not in favor of war in Lebanon. We don’t want that. happen.”
“Restoring calm along the border remains a top priority for President Biden and the administration. And we believe it is extremely important, both for Lebanon and for Israel,” he said in a virtual news session.
“We will continue to work towards a diplomatic solution that allows Israeli and Lebanese citizens to return home safely and stay there,” he added.
Lebanon’s foreign ministry said Thursday it plans to file a complaint against Israel for targeting civilians and rescue workers.
Tensions are at a peak along the border between Lebanon and Israel, with Israeli forces and Hezbollah exchanging fire. These are the deadliest clashes since the two sides went into full-scale war in 2006.
The Israel-Lebanon escalation comes amid an Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed more than 32,500 Palestinians following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas on October 7 that left 1,139 dead.
More than 300 people were killed in Lebanon, including 247 Hezbollah fighters.
According to Israeli data, about 20 Israelis were killed.
*Translated from English by Murad Belhaj
Source: AA
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