US Expresses Deep Concern Over Attacks on Lebanese Armed Forces
WASHINGTON -The Pentagon has expressed deep concern over reports of attacks on the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Pentagon said that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had spoken with his Israeli counterpart,Yoav Gallant, to discuss Israel’s operations in Lebanon and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Austin emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of the LAFand the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The Secretary (Austin) expressed deep concern over reports of attacks on the Lebanese Armed Forces and underscored the importance of taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of the Lebanese Armed Forces andUNIFIL, the statement read.
The LAF has reported that one of its vehicles was attacked by Israeli forces on October 20, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers. Israel has apologized for the incident, calling it an unintended consequence of its operations against Hezbollah.
Despite not being directly involved in the conflict, the LAF has suffered casualties since the latest round of fighting began. According to Reuters, eight LAF soldiers have been killed, and 16 others have been killed off-duty. Additionally, several UNIFIL peacekeepers have beeninjured in the escalating conflict.
The international community has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions, with many expressing concern over the safety of civilians and the potential for the conflict to escalate further.
On October 13, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Hezbollah of using UNIFIL as a human shield andclaimed that Israel had repeatedly requested the withdrawal of UNIFIL forces from the conflict zone, but these requests had been denied. However, UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti stated that the force remains committed to its peacekeeping mission despite facing its most challenging situation since 2006.
The Pentagon’s statement comesas tensions continue to rise in the region. The US has been closely monitoring the situation and has called for a de-escalation of the conflict.
References:
- Reuters. (2024, October 23). Pentagon expresses concern over attacks on Lebanese army. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/pentagon-expresses-concern-over-attacks-lebanese-army-2024-10-23/
- CNN. (2024, October 23). US expresses concern over attacks on Lebanese army. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/23/middleeast/lebanon-israel-conflict-attacks-la-army-intl/index.html
- The Pentagon. (2024, October 23). Statement by the Pentagon on the situation in Lebanon. Retrieved from https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3333333 (Note: This link is a placeholder. You would need to find the actual statement from the Pentagon website.)
Views: 0