Three Democrat members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee want answers from the Biden administration on Israeli strikes that reportedly killed members of the Lebanese armed forces (LAF), attacks they say could escalate the conflict in the Middle East.
“Reports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run contrary to the U.S. interest in de-escalating violence in the region,” Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), write in a letter sent Thursday to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Israel in September stepped up airstrikes in Lebanon and later launched a small ground invasion against Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in the country.
The actions have further inflamed tensions in the region – already destabilized by Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza – and has resulted in the deaths of numerous LAF members.
The lawmakers point to the most recent incident, caused by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike on Oct. 20, which reportedly killed three LAF soldiers evacuating wounded Lebanese citizens.
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