Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin is “deeply concerned” after Israeli strikes killed three Lebanese soldiers and more attacks were reported against UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, the Defense Department said on Monday.
An Israeli attack on Monday killed three Lebanese Armed Forces soldiers in the southern part of the country. The Israeli army apologized, claiming that they thought they were targeting a vehicle belonging to Hezbollah. This comes after an Oct. 11 attack by Israel that killed another two soldiers and wounded three more.
Also on Monday, the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said that the Israeli military “deliberately demolished an observation tower and perimeter fence of a UN position” in southern Lebanon.
“Secretary Austin is deeply concerned by the reports of strikes against the Lebanese Armed Forces, and he continues to emphasize the importance of taking all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of the Lebanese Armed Forces and UNIFIL forces,” Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told Al Arabiya English.
Israel has said it is going after Hezbollah’s infrastructure and weapons depots across the country. Washington has voiced full support for its campaign despite publicly stating for almost 12 months that it was against any ground operations or invasion of Lebanon.
After the Oct. 11 attack, a US defense official told Al Arabiya English that the US supported targeted Israeli operations against Hezbollah infrastructure that could be used to threaten Israeli citizens. “But it is critical that these operations be conducted in a way that does not threaten the lives of civilians, UN peacekeepers, or members of the Lebanese Armed Forces,” the official previously said.
Hezbollah began attacking Israel on Oct. 8, 2023, which resulted in the current bombardment of large swathes of Lebanon. After refusing to halt their attacks until a Gaza ceasefire was reached, Israel stepped up its attacks and wiped out almost all of Hezbollah’s leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah.
US envoy Amos Hochstein was in Beirut on Monday as part of the Biden administration’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
