Following Israel’s strike on Hezbollah Tuesday, there was significant backlash from Lebanon’s allies, with the foreign minister condemning the operation and calling for an international response.
“I want to be clear that Israel has the right to defend itself. I fully support Israel’s right to ensure its security,” Vice President Kamala Harris stated to reporters while in Atlanta for a rally.
“What we particularly understand is that Israel is justified in defending itself against the terrorist group, which Hezbollah undoubtedly is. Nevertheless, we must strive for a diplomatic solution to halt these attacks. We will persist in that endeavor.”
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported conducting a strike on Tuesday targeting Fuad Shukr, the commander believed to have orchestrated an attack that resulted in the deaths of a dozen children in Israel’s Golan Heights over the weekend.
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The IDF later asserted that their strike “eliminated” Shukr, although there has been no confirmation from the terror group regarding his death. Shukr is wanted by the U.S. with a $5 million bounty for his role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. military personnel and injured 128 others.
A damaged building due to an Israeli airstrike in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, Tuesday, July 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
“We are committed to finding a diplomatic resolution that allows both Israeli and Lebanese citizens to safely return to their homes and live in peace and security,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel stated during a briefing.
“We definitely aim to prevent any escalation,” Patel emphasized, reiterating that U.S. support for Israel remains steadfast.
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White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reacted to the news of the strike in real time, stating she didn’t have an immediate comment but noted, “we are aware of the reports… I defer to Israel regarding their military operations.”
Later that day, the White House issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to Israel as “ironclad and unwavering against all threats backed by Iran, including those from Lebanese Hezbollah.”
Ambulances arrive following an Israeli military strike on a building in Beirut’s southern suburb, July 30, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images)
“The attack from Lebanese Hezbollah this past weekend, which resulted in the deaths of 12 children and teenagers playing soccer, was devastating,” stated NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson. “Israel has the right to protect itself against serious threats.”
“Simultaneously, the United States is actively pursuing a diplomatic resolution to stop these horrific attacks and ensure safe homecomings for citizens on both sides.”
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Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib noted that the strike impacted the southern suburbs of Beirut, the core of Hezbollah’s operations. He declared that Lebanon would file a complaint with the United Nations while urging Hezbollah to eschew significant escalation.
Iranian proxies quickly expressed their condemnation of the strike. Hamas characterized it as a “dangerous escalation,” and the Houthis deemed it a “flagrant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty.”
Individuals navigate past debris and a damaged vehicle following an Israeli military strike on an eight-story building in Beirut’s southern suburb, July 30, 2024. (STR/AFP via Getty Images)
Iran also voiced its condemnation regarding the strike. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marziyeh Afkham stated on Tuesday that it is evident “the regional states, particularly the resilient Lebanese people, will thwart the Zionist regime’s schemes disguised as extremism and sectarianism just as they have in the past through their unity and national solidarity.”
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“The spread of violence and extremism in the region comes from an engineered crisis that aligns with the objectives and aggressive plans of the Zionists,” she added.
Russia characterized the strike as a “gross violation of international law,” according to Barron’s.
