US asks Israel to minimize civilian casualties in Lebanon

According to TASS, a statement from the White House press office said that US President Joe Biden, in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on October 9 (Washington time), spoke about the need to minimize damage to Lebanese civilians, including in Beirut.

“On the morning of October 9, President Biden spoke with the Prime Minister of Israel. Vice President Kamala Harris also joined the conversation. The President reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security against ballistic missile attack.

“With regard to Lebanon, the President stressed the need for diplomatic agreements regarding the return of Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Green Line (The Green Line is the name given to the border between Lebanon and Israel based on the helmet color of the United Nations peacekeeping forces stationed along it.“The President reaffirmed the right to defend his people from Hezbollah, which has launched thousands of rockets into Israel in the past year alone, and emphasized the need to minimize civilian harm, particularly in densely populated areas of Beirut,” the White House statement said.

Regarding the Gaza Strip, the leaders also discussed the urgent need to resume diplomatic relations to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. President Joe Biden also discussed the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and the need to restore access to its northern part, including through the immediate activation of a corridor from Jordan, according to the statement.

US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “agreed to maintain close communication in the coming days, both directly and through their national security aides.”

According to the Axios news portal, the US wants the Israeli attack to be large-scale but “not too disproportionate”, as this could lead to further escalation.

In addition, recently, information appeared in the US media that the level of US influence on Israel is gradually decreasing, showing that the alliance is cracking.