US Guarantees Support for Israeli Preemptive Strike on Hezbollah

WASHINGTON – United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured Israel that the US would support a preemptive strike against the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

The remarks came amid signs that Israel was preparing to strike Hezbollah positions last week, The New York Times reported Friday (8/30/2024), citing a senior US official who requested anonymity.

Blinken reportedly delivered the message during a visit to Tel Aviv, where he told Israeli officials that Washington would support them in taking action against Hezbollah forces or equipment that pose an imminent threat.

At the same time, Blinken warned Israel that it should not use a preemptive strike as a pretext for a broader attack on the Lebanese movement, the newspaper reported.

On Sunday, Israel and Hezbollah exchanged rocket fire. Hezbollah said it had fired more than 320 rockets and dozens of drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of senior commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut in July.

The situation on the Israel-Lebanon border escalated after the start of Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Israeli and Hezbollah forces have repeatedly carried out attacks on each other’s positions in areas along the border.

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