State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press conference: “We consider it important not only for the airport to remain open, but for the roads leading to it to remain open as well,” in order to enable those wishing to leave. Lebanon American nationals and nationals of other countries are prohibited from doing so.
The Israeli Air Force carried out a strike on The southern suburb of Beirut Near the international airport, Monday, according to a security source told Agence France-Presse.
Since last week, the United States has been chartering almost daily flights to facilitate the departure of its citizens and their families, amid the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah.
Miller said that about 900 people have left so far on those flights, which he explained were not fully booked, while the United States is reserving seats on commercial flights that are still available.
Miller pointed out that about 8,500 Americans contacted the State Department to inquire about the conditions for departure, but this does not mean that they all want to leave.
On the other hand, the spokesman did not want to comment on the Israeli strikes in Lebanon, especially on Beirut, and whether they were consistent with international law.
Miller simply said: “Of course, we expect them (the Israelis) to target Hezbollah in a way that is consistent with international humanitarian law and limits civilian casualties.”
The United States has previously criticized the high death toll from the Israeli attack Gaza StripMore than 41 thousand people were killed in the war that has been going on for a year.
He described the American president Joe Biden Some behaviors Israel In the Gaza Strip, it is “exaggerated,” but so far Washington has not changed its policy of supporting Israel in its expanding military operations.
In recent weeks, the scope of the war has expanded from the Gaza Strip, the stronghold of Hamas, to Hezbollah’s strongholds in Lebanon.
Miller said that the United States supports the Israeli attack against Hezbollah.
But he pointed out that the United States is “fully aware of the many times in the past in which Israel launched what appeared to be limited operations that lasted months or years,” pointing out that this is not the result that Washington is looking forward to.
