02:26White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Washington’s support for Israel ahead of an expected ground incursion into Lebanon, speaking in Washington DC on Monday.
"We understand the strategic purpose of this is to make sure that Hezbollah cannot maintain the capacity to attack Israeli communities from the immediate opposite side of the border, that's what we understand," she claimed.
Jean-Pierre went on to reiterate Tel Aviv’s right to defend itself, noting the 'constant discussion' with the Israeli government on 'the best way to move forward', and emphasised that the country was located within a 'really tough neighbourhood'.
"They have to be able to defend themselves against Hezbollah, against the Houthis, against Hamas. That is the reality, that is the reality that they're living in. And that's what we have been very clear about, making sure that our security, that we support for Israel's security's ironclad are and that's what you'll continue to see from this administration," she said.
Israel's 'limited and targeted' incursion into southern Lebanon began on Tuesday morning, following over a week of airstrikes on the region. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 1,800 deaths from those strikes. Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rocket attacks on northern Israel.
Meanwhile, the White House press secretary addressed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death in an Israeli airstrike that hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday.
"We are not shedding tears over a terrorist that was killed. That terrorist has American blood on their hands, and so we're certainly not going to shed a tear over that," she commented.
Tensions escalated between the sides following mass pager and handheld radio explosions across Lebanon last month. Hezbollah blamed Israel, while the country did not comment. They have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
'Hezbollah can't maintain capacity to attack Israeli communities' - WH spox backs 'ironclad' support for Israel as Lebanon ground incursion expected
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Washington’s support for Israel ahead of an expected ground incursion into Lebanon, speaking in Washington DC on Monday.
"We understand the strategic purpose of this is to make sure that Hezbollah cannot maintain the capacity to attack Israeli communities from the immediate opposite side of the border, that's what we understand," she claimed.
Jean-Pierre went on to reiterate Tel Aviv’s right to defend itself, noting the 'constant discussion' with the Israeli government on 'the best way to move forward', and emphasised that the country was located within a 'really tough neighbourhood'.
"They have to be able to defend themselves against Hezbollah, against the Houthis, against Hamas. That is the reality, that is the reality that they're living in. And that's what we have been very clear about, making sure that our security, that we support for Israel's security's ironclad are and that's what you'll continue to see from this administration," she said.
Israel's 'limited and targeted' incursion into southern Lebanon began on Tuesday morning, following over a week of airstrikes on the region. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 1,800 deaths from those strikes. Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rocket attacks on northern Israel.
Meanwhile, the White House press secretary addressed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death in an Israeli airstrike that hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday.
"We are not shedding tears over a terrorist that was killed. That terrorist has American blood on their hands, and so we're certainly not going to shed a tear over that," she commented.
Tensions escalated between the sides following mass pager and handheld radio explosions across Lebanon last month. Hezbollah blamed Israel, while the country did not comment. They have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed Washington’s support for Israel ahead of an expected ground incursion into Lebanon, speaking in Washington DC on Monday.
"We understand the strategic purpose of this is to make sure that Hezbollah cannot maintain the capacity to attack Israeli communities from the immediate opposite side of the border, that's what we understand," she claimed.
Jean-Pierre went on to reiterate Tel Aviv’s right to defend itself, noting the 'constant discussion' with the Israeli government on 'the best way to move forward', and emphasised that the country was located within a 'really tough neighbourhood'.
"They have to be able to defend themselves against Hezbollah, against the Houthis, against Hamas. That is the reality, that is the reality that they're living in. And that's what we have been very clear about, making sure that our security, that we support for Israel's security's ironclad are and that's what you'll continue to see from this administration," she said.
Israel's 'limited and targeted' incursion into southern Lebanon began on Tuesday morning, following over a week of airstrikes on the region. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 1,800 deaths from those strikes. Hezbollah has launched hundreds of rocket attacks on northern Israel.
Meanwhile, the White House press secretary addressed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's death in an Israeli airstrike that hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on Friday.
"We are not shedding tears over a terrorist that was killed. That terrorist has American blood on their hands, and so we're certainly not going to shed a tear over that," she commented.
Tensions escalated between the sides following mass pager and handheld radio explosions across Lebanon last month. Hezbollah blamed Israel, while the country did not comment. They have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.