US voices support for Israel destroying Hezbollah sites along border, appearing to back IDF raids into Lebanon

The Biden administration appears to express its support for the raids that the IDF began conducting late Monday night into Lebanon targeting Hezbollah sites along the border.

“We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hezbollah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says in the Pentagon’s readout of his call with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

During the Monday call, the pair discussed Israel’s latest military operations, and Austin “made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself.”

While seeming to voice support for the IDF operation, Austin stressed that the incursion was not an end in of itself.

“I reaffirmed that a diplomatic resolution is required to ensure that civilians can return safely to their homes on both sides of the border,” the US readout says.

Austin also “made clear that the United States is well-postured to defend US personnel, partners, and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict,” the readout continues. “I reiterated the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel.”