U.S. Defense Secretary Calls for Restraint Amid Rising Civilian Casualties in Lebanon
On Saturday, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III expressed deep concern over the escalating civilian casualties in Lebanon, stating that they were “far too high.” He urged Israel to consider scaling back its military strikes, particularly in areas close to Beirut, where the impact on civilians has been pronounced.
Austin’s remarks mark a significant moment as he becomes the highest-ranking U.S. official to publicly advocate for such restraint with pointed language. He attributed part of the blame for these civilian casualties to Hezbollah, accusing the group of deliberately concealing its weapons and fighters within civilian populations, thus complicating the situation.
Earlier in the week, Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, revealed that his government had received assurances from the Biden administration regarding a reduction in Israeli attacks on Beirut. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed this sentiment, confirming that the U.S. had communicated its opposition to “near-daily strikes” occurring in “densely populated areas of Beirut.”
Jean-Pierre further emphasized the importance of conducting military operations in a manner that minimizes the threat to civilian lives, stating, “We also understand that the operations they’re conducting to dismantle Hezbollah infrastructure are targeted.”
Following these discussions, there appeared to be a temporary lull in Israeli strikes around the Lebanese capital. However, on Saturday, the Israeli military resumed its bombardment in Dahiya, a densely populated urban area where Hezbollah holds significant influence. Reports indicated that this latest round of strikes represented the most intense bombardment in several days.
In addition to discussing the situation in Lebanon, Austin also highlighted efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He noted that recent actions have been taken to alleviate a sharp decline in humanitarian aid to the region.
Last Sunday, both Austin and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken conveyed a strong message in a letter to senior Israeli officials, warning that Israel could face repercussions, including a potential reduction in U.S. security assistance, if the flow of humanitarian aid to Gazans did not significantly improve within the next 30 days.
During a press briefing following a security meeting of the Group of 7 in Naples, Italy, Austin refrained from providing specific details regarding the renewed flow of aid to Gaza. However, his comments underscored the urgency of addressing the humanitarian needs of the population.
Furthermore, on Saturday, Austin expressed relief to his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, regarding a recent drone incident. A drone launched from Lebanon toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in the coastal town of Caesarea thankfully did not result in any injuries, as confirmed by Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder.
