The United States Emphasizes The Situation In Lebanon Cannot Turn Into A Gaza Strip

The Israeli military in southern Lebanon. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The US State Department on Wednesday warned that it would be unacceptable if Israel's military strike in southern Lebanon turned into a situation similar to its invasion of the Gaza Strip.

"We cannot and cannot see the situation in Lebanon turning into a situation like in Gaza. That, of course, is unacceptable," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said when asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's comments the day before.

"I emphasize that there should be no military action in Lebanon similar to Gaza and produce results similar to Gaza," he stressed.

PM Netanyahu said on Tuesday in a video message addressed to the Lebanese people, Hezbollah was weaker than ever before over the years and urged the Lebanese people to "rest your country."

"Don't let these terrorists destroy your future more than they have done," said PM Netanyahu.

"You have the opportunity to save Lebanon before falling into the brink of a long war that will cause destruction and suffering as we see in Gaza. It doesn't have to be like that," he said.

The latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, when a Palestinian militant group led by Hamas stormed Israel's southern region, leaving about 1,200 people dead and 250 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

In response, Israel carried out indiscriminate blockades, airstrikes and bombings, to ground operations in the Palestinian enclave.

Gaza's health authorities on Thursday announced the death toll from the Israeli attack since the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023, had reached 42.065, while injuries reached 97.886, the majority of children and women, quoted from WAFA.

The Hezbollah militant group began firing rockets at Israel on October 8, saying solidarity with Hamas.

Israel's reply resulted in cross-border attacks lasting nearly a year, with escalation some time ago increasing in line with airstrikes and followed by Israel's ground operations to Lebanese territory.