UPDATE - US says it does not want UNIFIL forces in Lebanon put in danger

‘UNIFIL force play an important role in establishing security in Lebanon,’ State Department says

ADDS BACKGROUND

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Monday said it does not want to see UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) forces put in danger in any way as Israel continues its ground offensive.

"UNIFIL force play an important role in establishing security in Lebanon, and ultimately, we want to see them able to do their job implementing UN Security Council resolution 1701," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.

The resolution, unanimously adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a complete cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and establishes a demilitarized zone between the Blue Line, the boundary between Lebanon and Israel, and the Litani River in southern Lebanon.

This zone is meant to be free of combatants, military equipment, and weapons, except for those belonging to the Lebanese army and UNIFIL.

When asked if the US still sees Israel’s ground offensive in Lebanon as a "limited operation," Miller responded: "We have seen the ground operations so far continue to be limited."

Miller said the US supports Israel targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon but expects it to do in way that "complies with international humanitarian law and minimizes civilian casualties."

Asked if the US believes Israel has complied with international law so far, he said: "That's never the question I can answer with a sweeping conclusion here."

He also emphasized the importance of keeping Beirut airport and the roads to the airport be open so that American citizens and citizens of other countries who want to leave that can get out.

Israel has mounted massive airstrikes across Lebanon against what it claims Hezbollah targets since Sept. 23, killing 1,251, injuring 3,618 others, and displacing more than 1.2 million people.

The aerial campaign was an escalation in yearlong cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of Tel Aviv’s brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip that has killed nearly 42,000 people, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack last year.

Kaynak:

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