Special Trump envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted his support for Israel following the missile attack from Lebanon.
By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News
Jason Greenblatt, President Trump’s representative for international negotiations, tweeted, “Missiles fired from Lebanon into Israel. Iran has proxies in Lebanon & Gaza that harm Israel, undermine chances for peace & threaten a better future for Palestinians. The US stands w/ Israel & fully supports its right to defend itself against all attacks.”
Israel responded to the missiles hitting an army ambulance near the border by shooting over 100 artillery shells at Lebanese targets and sending in the air force to hit several Hezbollah locations, even though no Israelis were hurt in the incident.
An unnamed State Department official talked of American concern about “the escalating tensions along the border,” and warned that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terror organization should desist from “hostile actions which threaten Lebanon’s security, stability, and sovereignty.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has often warned Beirut that the country as a whole would be held responsible for any attack on Israel, as Hezbollah is officially part of the government.
Lebanon has also not obeyed the strictures of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701 that ended the Second Lebanon War. The relevant part calls on the Lebanese national army to take over the security of the southern region that borders Israel instead of leaving it in Hezbollah’s hands.
Hezbollah has well over 100,000 rockets and is trying, with Iran’s help, to add precision guidance systems to a portion of them.
Israel has struck both Hezbollah sites and Iranian deliveries to stop this process many times. Last week, an attack on machinery necessary in the production of precision missile fuel was blamed on Israel. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned Israel’s “flagrant violation” of his country’s sovereignty.
Last week, U.S. administration officials expressed support for Israel after last week’s attack against a squad of Iranian-trained drone operators in Syria.
Vice President Mike Pence tweeted, “Under President @realDonaldTrump, America will always stand with Israel.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s office issued a statement: “The secretary expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself against threats posed by the Iranian [Islamic] Revolutionary Guard Corps and to take action to prevent imminent attacks against Israeli assets in the region.”