Blinken offers support for Israel’s actions against Hezbollah

Vientiane (Laos), October 12 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has offered support for Israel’s actions against Hezbollah, emphasizing that Tel Aviv has a “clear and very legitimate” interest.

Blinken said on Friday that Hezbollah tried to create another war front when Hamas’ attack on Israel occurred on October 7, 2023.

Speaking to journalists after participating in the 12th ASEAN-US Summit in Vientiane on Friday, the US Secretary said: “When the horror of October 7th happened, the next day Hezbollah joined in, trying to create another front. In the process, the rockets and other munitions they were launching into northern Israel forced people to flee their homes, and around 70,000 Israelis had to abandon their homes.” He said Israel responded to Hezbollah’s attacks in Lebanon. The US Secretary of State stressed that everyone has a great interest in trying to help create an environment in which people can return to their homes safely.

“In southern Lebanon – because Israel responded to these Hezbollah attacks – there are many people who have had to abandon their homes. This was long before the last few weeks; this is what happened over the last year. And we all have a strong interest in an attempt to help create an environment where people can return to their homes and live there safely, and children can return to school,” he said.

Extending support for Israel’s actions against Hezbollah, Blinken declared: “Israel has a clear and very legitimate interest in doing this. The people of Lebanon want the same thing. We believe the best way to get there is through a diplomatic understanding , which we have been working on for some time and which we are extremely focused on now.” The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7. Around 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and hostage taking. Following the October 7 attack, Israel launched a counteroffensive against Hamas, vowing to eliminate the entire terrorist group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties.

Blinken emphasized that Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks coming from Hezbollah and Hamas. He called it “important” that Israel, when acting against Hezbollah and Hamas, ensures that civilians are protected and not caught in terrible crossfire.

“Israel has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks coming from Hezbollah, from Hamas, from anyone else. But it is also vitally important that in doing so it focuses on ensuring that civilians are protected and, once again, don’t get caught in a terrible crossfire. So that’s another area of ​​concern,” he said.

On October 9, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked two key Hezbollah sites in the Dahieh district of Beirut. The precision strikes hit the terrorist group’s intelligence headquarters and a major weapons manufacturing facility.

Sharing a post on X, the IDF said: “Take a look at how close a weapons production facility was to civilian infrastructure in the Dahieh area.” “During the night, we conducted a precise and targeted attack on this facility as well as a Hezbollah. intelligence headquarters in the area This is why we must operate in the Dahieh area,” the post added.

The IDF further said that Hezbollah deliberately embedded its weapons storage facilities under residential buildings, schools, mosques and universities, endangering the civilian population in the area. Israel said it warned nearby residents to evacuate.

However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the weapons production facility in the Dahieh region was located close to civilian infrastructure.

In a post on X, he wrote: “Hezbollah in a photo. A weapons production facility next to civilian infrastructure in the Dahieh area.” It added: “During the night, the IDF conducted a precise and targeted attack on this facility, as well as a Hezbollah intelligence headquarters in the area.” (ANI)