Blinken warns "Israel should not prolong Lebanon's military operation"

U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has made clear the U.S. does not want Israel's military operation in Lebanon to be prolonged.

"Israel is trying to eliminate the threat of Hezbollah, but ultimately there must be a diplomatic solution," Blinken said at a press conference in Doha, Qatar, on the 24th local time.

"The United States has made it clear that Israeli military operations cannot and should not lead to long-term operations, and that Israel should take necessary measures to avoid causing civilian casualties and threatening U.N. peacekeepers or Lebanese forces," he said.

On the 25th, Blinken will meet with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in London to discuss the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, U.S. officials said.