US state dept. says Israel has made significant progress against Hezbollah

WASHINGTON — Asked about Israel’s airstrikes earlier today targeting Hezbollah sites across the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek, US State Department Matthew Miller reiterates the Biden administration’s stance in support of Israel going after Hezbollah sites, while urging it to avoid targeting civilians, civilian infrastructure, journalists and heritage sites.

Miller notes that Israel ordered the evacuation of Baalbek before carrying out the strikes and that the US supports this step.

He reiterates that IDF operations in Lebanon should not look like those in Gaza, where there has been mass destruction throughout the entirety of the Strip.

He notes that Israel has made significant progress in hitting Hezbollah along the southern Lebanese border and in efforts to push fighters of the terror group back beyond the Litani River.

The State Department spokesperson clarifies that the US is not at the moment calling for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon but does ultimately want to see a diplomatic resolution to the conflict in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1701.