Israeli forces invaded southern Lebanon early Tuesday with backing from the United States, which described the action as “limited operations to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure.” However, concerns have emerged that this move could lead to even greater violence and amplify the suffering of Lebanese civilians already enduring weeks of relentless airstrikes.
For nearly a month, Israeli forces have carried out airstrikes across Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people and displacing nearly a million, according to Lebanese health officials. While Israel claims its military actions target Hezbollah, many civilians have become casualties as schools, hospitals, and residential areas have been bombed.
The Biden administration framed the Israeli invasion as an act of self-defense, with the White House stating that the ground incursion into Lebanon aligns with Israel’s right to protect its citizens. A National Security Council spokesperson acknowledged concerns of “mission creep” but downplayed the risk, asserting that discussions with Israeli officials would continue.
Analysts have raised alarms about the consequences of such U.S. support for Israel’s actions. Historian Assal Rad pointed out that this invasion resembles Israel’s recent assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an operation that was initially characterized as “limited” but ended with vast destruction. “Gaza was a testing ground for Israel to see what they could get away with,” said Rad. “It did not stop at Gaza or the West Bank, and it may not stop at Lebanon because war was [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s objective all along.”
The toll on Lebanese civilians has been devastating. Airstrikes have obliterated vital infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, leaving many without basic necessities. The United Nations estimates that nearly a million Lebanese have been displaced, with many living in dire conditions as they flee the violence. Despite Israel’s insistence that its strikes are aimed at Hezbollah, entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.
Human rights advocates are decrying the humanitarian consequences of the U.S.’s continued support for Israel’s military operations. Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), condemned both the invasion and Washington’s complicity in it. “Israel’s invasion of Lebanon, following its devastating attacks, is the entirely predictable consequence of the Biden administration’s ceaseless coddling and resupply of weapons to Israel,” she said.
U.S.-based anti-war group CodePink expressed similar outrage, emphasizing the role U.S. taxpayers play in funding these military operations. “Israel claims its operation in Lebanon is ‘targeted,’ but like in Gaza, civilians are the real victims,” said the group, calling on Congress to halt military aid to Israel and push for accountability.
Israel’s ground invasion of southern Lebanon has heightened fears that the violence could spread across the region. Hezbollah, which has sustained significant losses, including the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike, has vowed to retaliate. Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, declared that their forces are “ready for a ground engagement,” raising the stakes in a conflict already marked by intense rocket fire across the Israel-Lebanon border.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu escalated the rhetoric, warning Iran—a key backer of Hezbollah—that Israel is capable of reaching any target in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Israel has launched strikes as far afield as Yemen, further raising concerns about the potential for more nations to become entangled in the fighting.
The Biden administration’s tacit support of Israel’s military actions has also sparked criticism from U.S. lawmakers and international observers, who argue that the U.S. could use its influence to de-escalate the situation. Instead, the U.S. continues to supply Israel with weapons and engage in deep intelligence-sharing, making it an active participant in the violence.
Critics argue that the U.S. must reassess its role in the conflict. Billions of dollars in military aid and weapons have flowed to Israel, with little regard for the devastation being inflicted on civilians in Lebanon and Gaza. The Washington Post noted that this fits a pattern of the Biden administration urging restraint publicly, only to later backtrack to avoid imposing conditions on military aid.
Sarah Leah Whitson criticized the administration’s reckless approach: “The Biden administration has acted recklessly in giving Israel a blank check to light the entire region on fire, all while disregarding our own legal obligations under both U.S. and international law.”
CodePink and other anti-war advocates have called for immediate cuts to U.S. military aid to Israel and stronger efforts to hold the Israeli government accountable for civilian casualties. They argue that the international community, particularly the U.S., has a moral and legal responsibility to act as a check on Israel’s aggressive actions, not to enable them.
With civilians paying the heaviest price, calls for a ceasefire and diplomatic intervention are growing louder. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres urged all parties to step back from the brink of even greater violence, saying, “An all-out war would surely be an all-out catastrophe.”
“The Biden administration has acted recklessly in giving Israel a blank check to light the entire region on fire,” said Whitson.
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