Foreign Minister Blinken Affirms US Doesn't Want Israeli Operations In Lebanon To Protracted

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (Twitter @SecBlinken)

JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Antony Blinken stressed on Thursday that the United States did not want Israel's actions in Lebanon to cause protracted operations, more than a month since Israel began major attacks on Hezbollah in the country.

Israel launched an attack on Lebanon which it claims aims to secure the return of tens of thousands of Israelis evacuated in northern Israel, due to cross-border attacks with the militant group Hezbollah.

Over the past month, Israel had attacked southern Lebanon, the southern suburbs of Beirut, and the Bekaa Valley and sent ground troops to areas near the border.

"When Israel carried out operations to eliminate threats to Israel and its people along the border with Lebanon, we were very clear that this could not cause, and should not cause a protracted campaign," Foreign Minister Blinken said in Doha, Qatar.

"Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not harm UN peacekeepers or Lebanese armed forces," he added.

The Israeli campaign has killed more than 2,500 people, displaced more than 1 million people, and caused a humanitarian crisis, Lebanese said.

Earlier on Thursday, Israeli attacks killed three Lebanese soldiers as they tried to evacuate injured people from Yater village near the border, the Lebanese army said.

Foreign Minister Blinken said the United States was "working hard" to achieve a diplomatic resolution that would allow civilians on both sides of the border to return to their homes.

It is known that Hezbollah opened fire on October 8, 2023, as a form of solidarity with Palestinian allies in Gaza, sparking a conflict that mostly occurs in areas near the border until Israel launches a massive escalation.