3 Democratic Senators Want Answers About Israeli Attacks That Killed Lebanese Armed Forces

Three Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee want answers from the Biden administration about Israeli strikes that killed members of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which they say could escalate the conflict in the Middle East.

“Reports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run counter to the U.S. interest in reducing violence in the region,” Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (DN.H.) and Chris Van Hollen (D- Md.), he wrote in a letter sent Thursday Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In September, Israel stepped up airstrikes in Lebanon and later launched a small ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in the country.

The actions further inflamed tensions in the region – already destabilized by Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza – and led to the deaths of numerous members of the Lebanese armed forces.

Lawmakers point to the most recent incident, caused by an Israeli airstrike on October 20, which reportedly killed three Lebanese soldiers evacuating wounded Lebanese citizens.

“We have all been steadfast in Israel’s ability to defend itself against the external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the Lebanese people to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF,” according to the letter, which also calls the Lebanese military a key sovereign institution “essential to promoting stability during ongoing crises. “

The letter is another request by Democrats to push the administration to pressure Israel to reduce attacks in Lebanon.

It also comes as American envoys were in Israel on Thursday to try to secure a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.

In their letter, the senators ask Austin and Blinken to assess Lebanese armed forces casualties as a result of Israeli military operations – including whether they were Israeli targets and, if so, any operational justification for identifying them.

They also want to know whether Israel communicated the use of US-supplied weapons in these operations, any communication Washington had with the Israelis to protest actions that resulted in Lebanese military casualties, and whether Israel took any pledge to focus its efforts against Hezbollah so as to protect Lebanese troops, citizens and international workers.

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