3 Democratic senators want answers on Israeli strikes that killed Lebanese armed forces

Three Democratic 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.), wrote 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 Lebanese armed forces members.

The lawmakers point to the most recent incident, caused by an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 20, which reportedly killed three Lebanese soldiers evacuating wounded Lebanese citizens.

“We have all stood firm for Israel’s ability to defend itself from external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the people of Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF,” according to the letter, which also calls the Lebanese military a key sovereign institution “critical to promoting stability amidst ongoing crises.”

The letter represents another bid by Democrats to push the administration to pressure Israel to pare back its attacks in Lebanon.

It also comes as U.S. envoys were in Israel Thursday to attempt to secure cease-fires in both Lebanon and Gaza.

In their letter, the senators ask Austin and Blinken for their assessment of Lebanese armed forces casualties as a result of Israeli military operations — including whether they were Israeli targets and if so, any operational justification for singling them out.

They also want to know if Israel communicated its use of U.S.-supplied weapons in these operations, any communication Washington has had with the Israelis to protest actions leading to Lebanese military casualties, and if Israel has made any commitment to focus its efforts against Hezbollah so as to protect Lebanese troops, citizens and international aid workers.