US out of step as world reacts to Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon

The United States seemed out of step with the rest of the world when it pledged support for Israel’s ground incursion into Lebanon.

As voices around the world called Tuesday for a ceasefire and a retreat from the brink of all-out war, Washington said the “limited” ground offensive in southern Lebanon was “the right of Israel to defend itself.

Israeli troops advanced into Lebanon Tuesday night, in a widely expected move. The army said in a statement that the raids were “limited, localized and targeted” against Hezbollah.

However, the advance further increases the risk of a broader escalation in the fight against the Iran-backed armed group, or even across the entire region, and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Japan have all quickly expressed concern. .

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he told his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, that Washington agreed on the need for a ground offensive to rid Lebanon’s southern border area of Hezbollah weapons and other means it can use to carry out attacks across the border.

“I have made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” Austin said.

I spoke today with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss developments in Israeli security and operations. I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself. We agreed on the need to dismantle attack infrastructure along the border…

– Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 1, 2024

The White House National Security Council made a similar statement Tuesday, justifying Israel’s “limited operations.”

He also added that he remained opposed to the expansion of ground attacks and that a diplomatic solution was the only way to achieve lasting stability along the Israel-Lebanon border.

“The most dangerous”

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has warned that his country faces “one of the most dangerous phases in its history” and urged the United Nations to provide aid to a million people displaced by Israeli attacks on in recent weeks.

“We urgently call for more assistance to strengthen our ongoing efforts to provide basic support to displaced civilians,” Mikati said during a meeting with UN representatives.

The UN humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, announced the launch of a $426 million “flash appeal” for emergency humanitarian aid for civilians caught up in the conflict.

“Without sufficient resources, humanitarians risk leaving the population of an entire country without the support they urgently need,” Riza warned.

However, he added that no aid can fully address the crisis if civilians continue to be targeted.

Liz Throssell, a spokesperson for the UN human rights office, warned of “a full-scale ground invasion” which would only lead to “greater suffering”.

“Territorial integrity”

The new phase of the Israeli operation quickly sowed concern in the Middle East.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon condemned the offensive, saying it violates Lebanon’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” over the escalation of fighting and “reaffirmed its unwavering stance in favor of Lebanon’s unity, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” .

The statement calls for international support to prevent further escalation and emphasizes the importance of ensuring full protection for civilians.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan “ordered the delivery of an urgent $100 million relief package to the Lebanese people,” the ministry added.

Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi warned on X that “aggression against Lebanon would bring the worst.”

“Now more than ever, he needs our unwavering support to safeguard the integrity and security of the country. Standing alongside the brotherly people of Lebanon is not only a moral duty, but an imperative necessity,” he said.

Further, the response was unified, calling for a halt to hostilities and warning of the dangers of a regional conflagration.

The Japanese government called for an immediate ceasefire and maximum restraint to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Russia warned that “the geography of hostilities is expanding, further destabilizing the region and increasing tensions.”

Spain’s foreign minister has demanded that Israel stop its ground raids to avoid the conflict enveloping the region.

Italy, president of the Group of Seven (G7), rich democracies, declared that it would continue to work towards de-escalation.

New NATO chief Mark Rutte said he was “closely following what is happening in Lebanon” and expressed hope that “hostilities would end as soon as possible.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has warned that the price of a regional war would be enormous. He added that London was speaking to its Iranian counterparts to urge restraint, but had not mentioned any similar contacts with Israel.

Northern Arrows

Israel launched the incursion, dubbed Northern Arrows – its first ground offensive into Lebanon since the 2006 war – on Monday evening, after more than a week of intense airstrikes on the capital Beirut and southern Lebanon.

These raids killed hundreds of people, including senior Hezbollah commanders and the armed group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli military says its ground invasion aims to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River, about 30 km from the Israel-Lebanon border, forcing the group to comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

On Tuesday, UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force, warned that “any crossing into Lebanon constitutes a violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and a violation of Resolution 1701.”