US Backs Israel’s Ground Incursion into Lebanon, Drawing International Condemnation

The United States has thrown its weight behind Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon, drawing condemnation from much of the international community. While calls for a ceasefire and de-escalation echoed across the globe on Tuesday, Washington declared its support for Israel’s “right to defend itself,” Al Jazeera reports.

Israeli troops crossed the border into southern Lebanon overnight, carrying out what they described as “limited, localized, and targeted” raids against Hezbollah. The move has sparked fears of a wider escalation in the conflict, with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Japan expressing deep concern.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, affirming Washington’s support for the ground operation.

“I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” Austin said.

The White House National Security Council echoed this sentiment, justifying Israel’s “limited operations” while also expressing opposition to expanding the ground assault and emphasizing the need for a diplomatic solution.

Meanwhile, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that his country is facing “one of the most dangerous phases of its history.” He urged the United Nations to provide aid for the estimated one million people displaced by Israel’s attacks over the past weeks.

The United Nations’ humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, launched a $426 million flash appeal for urgent humanitarian aid for civilians caught in the conflict.

“Without sufficient resources, humanitarians risk leaving the population of an entire country without the support they urgently require,” Riza warned.

He emphasized that no amount of aid can fully address the crisis if civilians continue to be targeted.

The ground incursion, dubbed “Northern Arrows,” marks Israel’s first ground offensive into Lebanon since the 2006 war. It follows over a week of intense air strikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, including senior Hezbollah commanders and the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli army asserts that its ground invasion aims to push Hezbollah north of the Litany River, some 30 kilometers from the Israeli-Lebanese border, in order to force the group to comply with UN Resolution 1701. However, the international community remains deeply concerned about the potential for a wider escalation and the devastating humanitarian consequences of the ongoing conflict.