US Criticizes Israel for Over 30 Strikes on Lebanese Military Amid Fears of Escalating Gaza Conflict

The Biden administration has expressed concern about Israel's frequent attacks on the US-supported Lebanese army in the north. Israeli forces have targeted Lebanese Armed Forces positions over 34 times since October 7 using small arms, artillery fire, drones, and helicopters, leading to strong condemnation from top US officials.

The Biden administration has informed Israel that the strikes are not acceptable, according to officials. One senior US official expressed belief that some of the strikes were accidental, targeting the powerful Shiite Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which operates along the Lebanon-Israel border and has been targeting Israeli military positions. However, the intentions behind other strikes remained unclear, and it was suggested that less experienced Israeli troops may not be showing enough restraint.

The incidents, which had not been reported previously, have left US officials feeling frustrated. They believe that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will need to be involved in any diplomatic resolution between Israel and Lebanon to quell the ongoing violence. The US also has significant concerns that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could spread northward, and officials have been working with Israel and Lebanon to prevent the war from escalating further.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council told CNN that the United States has emphasized its opposition to the conflict spreading to Lebanon and urges Israel to take measures to avoid civilian casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, farmland, the UN, and the Lebanese Armed Forces. The spokesperson also expressed pride in the partnership with the LAF, highlighting its importance for the stability and security of Lebanon and the wider region. The Israel Defense Forces did not provide an immediate response to a request for comment.

The Lebanese military, while not as powerful as Hezbollah's well-funded and trained paramilitary forces, receives support from the US. Despite its limitations, the LAF is considered a valuable partner for Washington, particularly in the fight against terrorism. The US sees the LAF as a popular and neutral alternative to Hezbollah, and an important player in future peace negotiations. US officials have expressed concern over Israel's recent attacks on the Lebanese military, which have resulted in several injuries and one fatality.

Based on a report from CNN, a Lebanese soldier was killed and three were injured on December 5 when four tank shells struck a position on the Blue Line, which marks the border between Israel and Lebanon as designated by the UN. The Israeli military issued an apology and stated that the Lebanese Armed Forces were not the intended target of the strike. According to US officials, the LAF did not retaliate militarily.

In southern Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes targeted two LAF positions on October 21, destroying an observation post. Just six days later, a LAF patrol, which included a brigade commander, was fired upon directly, according to US officials. Then on December 8, a Lebanese soldier suffered from the effects of white phosphorous.

The December 8 incident followed a report from The Washington Post that in October, Israel had used US-supplied white phosphorous munitions, injuring at least nine civilians. The White House announced that it would be seeking answers from Israel regarding its use of white phosphorous.

A senior congressional aide expressed concern about the continued strikes by the IDFs on LAF positions, calling it irresponsible. The aide highlighted the crucial role of the LAF and emphasized that many members of Congress share the administration's concerns. US officials also communicated to Israeli leadership the need for greater caution as the pace of strikes increased. In the midst of this, the US has been working with Lebanon to ease the violence between Israel and Hezbollah and to stabilize the northern border. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has expressed the desire for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River, approximately 18 miles from the border.

On October 13, a Reuters reporter was fatally wounded and six other journalists were injured in two tank artillery strikes in southern Lebanon during their coverage of the conflict. The journalists, visibly wearing blue flak jackets labeled Press, were on a vulnerable hilltop while Israeli helicopters and drones flew overhead.

Subsequent inquiries by two human rights organizations, as well as Reuters and Agence France-Presse, suggested that the targeting may have been intentional. Human Rights Watch labeled the attack as a possible war crime.

Ramzi Kaiss, a Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that Israeli forces have repeatedly and intentionally attacked journalists, resulting in deadly consequences. He emphasized the importance of holding those responsible accountable and reiterated that journalists and civilians should not be targeted.