US defense secretary calls on Israel to reduce air strikes on Lebanon

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday that the United States wants Israel to reduce its airstrikes in and around the Lebanese capital Beirut, adding that the number of civilian casualties was “too high.” Austin’s comments came hours after Israel launched heavy airstrikes on multiple locations in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Smoke drifted across the city’s horizon throughout the night. Israel said it struck weapons facilities of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Thousands of people have fled Beirut’s southern suburbs since Israel began regular airstrikes in the area. The southern suburbs were once densely populated areas and are home to Hezbollah offices and underground facilities. “We would like to see Israel reduce some of the attacks that are going on, especially in and around Beirut,” Austin told reporters at the G7 defense conference in the Italian city of Naples. “We would like to see some kind of negotiation that allows civilians on both sides of the border to return home as soon as possible.” Hezbollah has been exchanging fire with Israel on the border since Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas started fighting in Gaza in October last year. About three weeks ago, Israel launched a ground operation in Lebanon to help Israeli residents stabilize the border situation. Austin said he had asked Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant about reports that Israel had attacked the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base. UNIFIL previously said that it had been subjected to multiple “deliberate” attacks by the Israeli army in recent days, and that Israeli shelling had also hindered aid to civilians in the war zone villages. “He (Galant) assured me that he or his forces had no intention of attacking the UN peacekeeping forces. I reiterate that it is very important to ensure that these forces are not attacked,” Austin said. After rockets hit northern Israel, Israel continued to attack Beirut and Gaza On Saturday, Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel and a drone attacked the vacation home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Netanyahu was not there at the time. In addition to launching attacks on Hezbollah armed facilities in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Israel also continued its air strikes on Gaza. Israel and its enemies Hamas and Hezbollah have vowed to keep fighting, dashing hopes that the death of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar could lead to a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.An Israeli attack on a multi-storey building in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia on Saturday killed at least 73 people and wounded dozens, medics and Hamas media said. Israel said the casualty figures were exaggerated and did not match the information it had received.Officials, diplomats and other sources said Israel is trying to protect its borders and ensure its adversaries cannot regroup by stepping up military operations as the U.S. election approaches. The United States, Israel’s strongest ally, has been urging Israel to step up protection for civilians in Gaza and Lebanon.