Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning Israel on Thursday to not lead a “protracted campaign” towards the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Blinken, who’s visiting Qatar for talks to finish the warfare in Gaza, stated, “as Israel conducts operations to remove the threat to Israel and its people along the border, with Lebanon, we have been very clear that this cannot lead, should not lead to a protracted campaign and that Israel must take the necessary steps to avoid civilian casualties and not endanger U.N. peacekeepers or the Lebanese Armed Forces.
“Proper now, we’re working intensely to succeed in a diplomatic decision . . . [that] permits civilians on each side of the border to return to their properties and to have the ability to stay there in peace and safety,” Blinken added. “We’re additionally dedicated to build up and supporting Lebanese efforts to construct up their very own establishments free from the grip of Hezbollah, in order that the individuals of Lebanon have extra safety, extra alternative, extra prosperity.”
Blinken’s comments come nearly a month after the Israeli military began its limited ground operation inside Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces revealed Thursday that it has found another hideout where Hezbollah’s special forces unit was allegedly planning an Oct. 7-style attack on Israel.
Smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike targeting Beirut’s southern suburb of Shayah on Oct. 22. (Fadel Itani/AFP via Getty Images)
The IDF says its troops discovered “bunk beds, storage cupboards, meals provides, infrastructure for long-term keep, a considerable amount of tools, weapons and launch positions” in the underground facility.
“Throughout these restricted and localized floor operations in southern Lebanon, our troops additionally situated 4 weapons storage services with rockets, mortars, RPGs and extra,” it added.
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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, right, meets with the Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the Israeli Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel on Oct. 22. (Ariel Hermoni/IMoD/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The U.S. State Department said Thursday that Blinken “met with Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the moment in Doha,” where they “mentioned renewed efforts to safe the discharge of the hostages and finish the warfare in Gaza, in addition to ongoing work to supply for safety, governance, and reconstruction in Gaza after the warfare.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani walk as they attend a press conference, in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, Oct. 24. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)
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The visit comes after Blinken was in Israel earlier this week, just days after Hezbollah launched a drone strike to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his private residence in Caesarea.
Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
