US renews support for Israel despite bloody war in Lebanon, Gaza

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says the United States will continue to provide military aid to Israel no matter what happens in Lebanon and Gaza.

Asked about “red lines” for US support to Israel, Austin told reporters the US won’t change its commitment to help Israel protect itself.

“We’ve been committed from the very beginning to help Israel, provide the things that are necessary for them to be able to protect their sovereign territory, and that hasn’t changed and won’t change in the future,” Austin said after a meeting in London.

Israel said on Thursday it secured a new $8.7bn aid package from the US to support its ongoing attacks and to maintain a military edge in the region.

The Muslim Parrot reported that Israel rejected global calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah and continues a bombing campaign that’s killed hundreds in Lebanon and raised fears of a full-blown Middle East war.

On Thursday, the Israeli military said it conducted strikes on approximately 75 targets in the eastern Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon, strongholds of Hezbollah that have witnessed a massive exodus of civilians fleeing their homes in recent days.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that around 118,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in Lebanon over the past week alone.