Pentagon Maintains Israel’s Attacks in Lebanon as “Limited”
During the daily press conference at the Pentagon, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder faced a barrage of questions regarding Israel’s ongoing attacks in Lebanon. The attacks, which have resulted in the deaths of 2,169 people, including 104 children and 194 women, have raised concerns about the scale and impact of the violence.
One journalist posed a hypothetical scenario, asking if Washington was bombed every night and millions of people were forced to flee their homes, would the US still consider it a ‘limited operation’? Ryder responded by stating that they view the operation as ‘limited’ in terms of ground operations, emphasizing the ongoing discussions with Israeli partners regarding security and stability in the region.
The issue of trust in the information provided about the nature of the attacks was raised, to which Ryder reiterated that Israel’s goal is to eliminate Hezbollah’s attack infrastructure on the Lebanese border. He also mentioned the US’s national interests in the region and their longstanding security cooperation with Israel.
There were also questions about reports of Israel targeting Lebanese army assets and UN peacekeeping forces, as well as planting their flag on Lebanese territory. Ryder expressed concern about the reports but stated that he did not have independent confirmation of the events.
In response to inquiries about the amount of aid provided to Israel since October 7, 2023, Ryder mentioned that billions of dollars in security assistance have been given to Israel during that time frame. The situation in the region remains tense, with ongoing discussions and concerns about escalation and the impact on regional stability.
