WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Israel and Hezbollah are trading heavy fire, as Israel’s forces have pushed into southern Lebanon.
“We support Israel’s efforts to degrade Hezbollah’s capability,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
Hezbollah stepped up its rocket fire during this latest effort by Israel, after a senior Hezbollah commander was killed.
“Hezbollah’s leadership has been degraded. Hezbollah, infrastructure has been degraded,” Miller said.
The State Department and the Pentagon agree Israel has a right to defend itself, but they say Israel must be careful.
“But it has to be in a way that, of course, takes into account civilians in the area,” Pentagon Spokesperson Sabrina Singh said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Hezbollah is weaker than it’s ever been and encourages the Lebanese people to stand up to the terrorist group.
“You have an opportunity to save Lebanon before it falls into the abyss of a long war that will lead to destruction and suffering, like we see in Gaza,” Netanyahu said.
Recently, Hezbollah expressed support for an effort to reach a ceasefire, but the State Department questions the timing.
“Where have they been for a year? For a year, the world has been calling on Hezbollah to stop the attacks across the border into Israel,” Miller said.
Israel’s Defense Minister was scheduled to visit the U.S. Wednesday, but the trip was delayed. The Pentagon did not explain why.
