The United States, Israel‘s primary ally, expressed its opposition on Tuesday regarding the extent of the recent air strikes in Beirut, which have contributed to a rising death toll and heightened concerns about a potential escalation involving Iran. According to the U.N. refugee agency, Israeli military evacuation orders are impacting over a quarter of Lebanon, following Israel’s incursions into the southern region aimed at countering Hezbollah.

Several Western nations are advocating for a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, as well as in Gaza. However, the United States maintains its support for Israel, announcing the deployment of an anti-missile system and troops. On Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller conveyed that the U.S. had raised its concerns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government regarding the recent air strikes.

He stated, “We have made it clear to the Israeli government that we have concerns about the scope and nature of the bombing campaign in Beirut over the past few weeks, and we oppose it,” reflecting a more critical stance than previously expressed by Washington.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin communicated with Israeli officials on Sunday, urging them to implement specific measures to address the escalating crisis in Gaza, with a request for action to be taken within 30 days, according to U.S. officials.

Israel has intensified its military operations against Hezbollah following incursions into Lebanon, which included the killing of key Hezbollah leaders, notably veteran secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, marking a significant setback for the group in recent history.

On Tuesday, during a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his opposition to a unilateral ceasefire and conveyed his surprise regarding Macron’s proposal to convene a conference focused on Lebanon, as reported by Israeli sources. Netanyahu’s office issued a statement reminding the French President that the establishment of the State of Israel was not a result of a UN resolution but rather a victory achieved during the War of Independence.

The Elysee Palace has not yet responded to requests for comment. The two leaders have previously had disagreements, particularly concerning Macron’s advocacy for halting arms sales to Israel.

PAIN AND CEASEFIRE

As diplomatic negotiations remain stagnant, hostilities persist. On Tuesday, the Israeli military announced the capture of three members of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan forces, stating they have been transferred to Israel for further investigation. Hezbollah has yet to issue a statement regarding this development.

Naim Qassem, the deputy chief of Hezbollah, indicated earlier on Tuesday that the Iran-supported group intends to inflict “pain” on Israel while simultaneously advocating for a ceasefire.

“Following the ceasefire, based on an indirect agreement, settlers will return to the north, and additional measures will be established,” Qassem mentioned in a recorded address.

Israel has not provided an immediate response, maintaining that its operations in Lebanon are aimed at facilitating the return of tens of thousands of residents who were displaced from northern Israel due to Hezbollah’s assaults. Qassem warned that more Israelis would face displacement, stating that “hundreds of thousands, potentially over two million, will be at risk at any moment, on any day.”

According to the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in at least 2,350 fatalities over the past year and left nearly 11,000 injured, with more than 1.2 million people displaced. The reported figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants but include numerous women and children.

The health ministry reported that on Monday, 41 individuals were killed and 124 were injured. Since the onset of the conflict, around 50 Israelis, including both soldiers and civilians, have lost their lives, as per Israeli sources.

These statistics highlight the significant toll on the Lebanese population as Israel seeks to dismantle the infrastructure of the Iran-backed militant group, a conflict that reignited a year ago when Hezbollah began launching rockets at Israel in solidarity with Hamas at the beginning of the Gaza war.

EVACUATION NOTICES

Rema Jamous Imseis, the Middle East director for the U.N. refugee agency, reported that repeated evacuation notices issued by Israel to numerous villages in southern Lebanon have now impacted over a quarter of the nation. “Individuals are responding to these evacuation requests, leaving with very few belongings,” she stated during a briefing in Geneva.

On Monday, Israel intensified its bombing campaign in Lebanon, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 individuals in a northern strike targeting a residence where displaced persons were taking refuge, according to health officials. Many of the victims were women and children from the same family.

Jeremy Laurence, spokesperson for the U.N. human rights office, urged for an investigation into the airstrike, expressing concerns regarding compliance with “the laws of war.” While Israel has not issued a statement regarding the incident, it maintains that it takes extensive measures to minimize civilian casualties.

Israel’s military focus in Lebanon has primarily been on the Bekaa Valley in the east, the outskirts of Beirut, and the southern regions, where U.N. peacekeepers have reported that Israeli fire has repeatedly struck their bases, resulting in injuries to peacekeeping personnel.