Biden Administration Approves: Israel Launches Invasion into Lebanon

Early Tuesday, Israeli troops entered southern Lebanon with explicit backing from the United States, which supported what it termed “limited operations to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure”. This move has raised concerns about potentially expanding the conflict and worsening the humanitarian crisis already impacting Lebanese citizens.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) utilized terminology for this ground operation similar to that used for their aerial attacks in Lebanon and Gaza. These actions, although described as “precision strikes” against Hezbollah and Hamas, have routinely resulted in civilian casualties and the destruction of vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals, and homes. Since mid-September, Israeli air raids in Lebanon have claimed over a thousand lives and displaced close to a million people.

The ground offensive received the green light from the Biden administration. According to a statement from the White House, the mission aligns with Israel’s right to protect its citizens and facilitate the safe return of civilians to their residences.

A White House National Security Council spokesperson addressed concerns about the operation’s potential expansion, briefly mentioning ongoing discussions with Israeli officials.

Experts have compared the troop movements into Lebanon to Israel’s earlier invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. Initially described as limited, that operation left the city devastated.

“Gaza served as a test bed for Israel to gauge its limits, and evidently, they found they could push boundaries as far as they wanted,” remarked historian and analyst Assal Rad. “The conflict didn’t stop at Gaza or the West Bank, and it’s unlikely to end with Lebanon. Netanyahu has had his sights set on a broader conflict, with Iran as the ultimate target,” he added.

“The Biden administration is effectively providing a shield for Israel as it invades another sovereign nation.”

The invasion follows the Netanyahu government’s rejection of a three-week ceasefire proposed by the U.S., France, and other countries, and an escalation of bombings in Lebanon, including an attack on Beirut that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and numerous civilians. The fatal strike on Nasrallah reportedly used 2,000-pound bombs supplied by the U.S.

Western media coverage has depicted the U.S. as increasingly sidelined, with minimal sway in preventing a large-scale ground invasion of Lebanon. Nevertheless, the Biden administration has not significantly used American military aid as leverage to deter the conflict that threatens to engulf the region.

Conversely, billions in aid and American weaponry continue to flow to Israel, supporting its campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon. The Washington Post noted that “the administration’s pattern appears to initially discourage certain Israeli actions, only to later retract to avoid imposing conditions on military assistance.”

The U.S. has also participated in what has been termed “unprecedented” levels of intelligence sharing with Israel, which deepens its involvement in the ongoing conflicts.

Sarah Leah Whitson, executive director of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), stated late Monday that “Israel’s latest invasion of Lebanon, following devastating attacks over the past two weeks, is a direct result of the Biden administration’s relentless support and resupply of weapons to Israel, despite its occasional public calls for ceasefires.”

“The Biden administration has been reckless, essentially providing Israel with carte blanche to escalate tensions in the region, all while ignoring U.S. and international legal obligations to stop the flow of arms,” Whitson concluded.

The U.S.-based anti-war organization CodePink argued that “while Israel claims its operations in Lebanon are ‘targeted’, civilians are invariably the primary victims.”

“The Biden administration is effectively providing a shield for Israel as it invades another sovereign nation,” the group stated. “U.S. taxpayers finance Israel’s military, contributing billions annually and supplying the weapons that ultimately harm innocent lives.”

“By cutting military aid, demanding a ceasefire, and holding Israel accountable, the Biden administration and Congress could de-escalate the situation. However, they continue to permit aggression across the Middle East,” CodePink added.