GAZA: Top US officials have criticized Israel for attacks on the Lebanese army over the last two months, CNN reported on Friday. According to CNN, the Israeli troops have struck Lebanese army positions over 34 times since October 7, including with artillery fire, small arms, drones and helicopters.
CNN quoted several top US officials as saying the attacks are “unacceptable”. One senior US official said that Washington believes the intention of some strikes has been less clear and more junior level Israeli forces may not be exercising restraint.
The incidents have frustrated US authorities as Washington believes the Lebanese army will need to be part of any eventual diplomatic solution to quiet the current violence in the region, CNN reported.
US Top Officials Criticize Israel for Striking Lebanese Military Several Times: Report
The America is deeply concerned that the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza could expand to the north, and US has been working to try to contain the conflict, CNN claimed.
A spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council told CNN that the US has been clear they do not want to see this crisis spread to Lebanon. It added that they continue to ask Israel to avoid civilians, the United Nations, and the Lebanese military.
The CNN report come as earlier, US President Joe Biden said Israel’s “indiscriminate” bombardment of civilians was costing global support. Since October, 7 Israel has bombarded Gaza from the air and land, imposed a siege and mounted a ground attack. Gaza Health Ministry said that around 19,000 innocent Palestinian civilians mostly women and children have been killed and over 51,000 wounded in the Israeli attack. Increasing civilian casualties in the Gaza has caused an increasing rift between the US and Israel. But during his trip to Israel, Sullivan had asked hard questions of Israel about the course of their attack against the Gaza Strip.
