01:33Mandatory Credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller admitted there had been 'conversations' about an expected Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, during a briefing in Washington DC on Monday.
"I’ll let Israel speak to its own military operations. We have been engaged in conversations with them about those operations, but the timing, purpose, tempo of those, I’ll let them speak to," he said
"So they haven’t told you anything about what’s going on?" a journalist asked.
"They have been – we have been in conversations. They have been informing us about a number of operations. I know I’ve seen reports about ground operations. We’ve had some conversations with them about that. They have at this time told us that those are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border, but we’re in continuous conversations with them about it," Miller added.
Commenting on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's assassination in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Friday, the spokesperson claimed Israel's right to self defence included 'bringing brutal terrorists … to justice'.
"At the same time, we ultimately want to see a diplomatic resolution to conflict in the Middle East that provides long-term security for the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, and the Palestinian people, as well as the broader region. And we will continue to work to advance efforts along those fronts," he continued.
An Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 27, killing Nasrallah and others. Israel has conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon for the past week, with hundreds killed according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
It followed the mass pager and handheld radio explosions last month, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement. The sides have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
'So they haven't told you anything?' - State Dept admits 'conversations' on Israel's 'limited' ground ops in Lebanon
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller admitted there had been 'conversations' about an expected Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, during a briefing in Washington DC on Monday.
"I’ll let Israel speak to its own military operations. We have been engaged in conversations with them about those operations, but the timing, purpose, tempo of those, I’ll let them speak to," he said
"So they haven’t told you anything about what’s going on?" a journalist asked.
"They have been – we have been in conversations. They have been informing us about a number of operations. I know I’ve seen reports about ground operations. We’ve had some conversations with them about that. They have at this time told us that those are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border, but we’re in continuous conversations with them about it," Miller added.
Commenting on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's assassination in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Friday, the spokesperson claimed Israel's right to self defence included 'bringing brutal terrorists … to justice'.
"At the same time, we ultimately want to see a diplomatic resolution to conflict in the Middle East that provides long-term security for the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, and the Palestinian people, as well as the broader region. And we will continue to work to advance efforts along those fronts," he continued.
An Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 27, killing Nasrallah and others. Israel has conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon for the past week, with hundreds killed according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
It followed the mass pager and handheld radio explosions last month, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement. The sides have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.
Mandatory Credit: US State Department
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller admitted there had been 'conversations' about an expected Israeli ground operation in Lebanon, during a briefing in Washington DC on Monday.
"I’ll let Israel speak to its own military operations. We have been engaged in conversations with them about those operations, but the timing, purpose, tempo of those, I’ll let them speak to," he said
"So they haven’t told you anything about what’s going on?" a journalist asked.
"They have been – we have been in conversations. They have been informing us about a number of operations. I know I’ve seen reports about ground operations. We’ve had some conversations with them about that. They have at this time told us that those are limited operations focused on Hezbollah infrastructure near the border, but we’re in continuous conversations with them about it," Miller added.
Commenting on Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah's assassination in an Israeli strike on Beirut on Friday, the spokesperson claimed Israel's right to self defence included 'bringing brutal terrorists … to justice'.
"At the same time, we ultimately want to see a diplomatic resolution to conflict in the Middle East that provides long-term security for the people of Israel, the people of Lebanon, and the Palestinian people, as well as the broader region. And we will continue to work to advance efforts along those fronts," he continued.
An Israeli airstrike hit Hezbollah's headquarters in Beirut's southern suburbs on September 27, killing Nasrallah and others. Israel has conducted airstrikes on southern Lebanon for the past week, with hundreds killed according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.
It followed the mass pager and handheld radio explosions last month, which Hezbollah blamed on Israel. The IDF denied involvement. The sides have exchanged cross-border fire since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023.