US “aware” of Israeli strikes in Lebanon amid fragile ceasefire, Rubio says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States is “aware” of Israel’s strikes on Lebanon during the fragile ceasefire and said the US has urged Israel “to make sure their responses are proportional and targeted.”

“So far that appears to be the case,” Rubio said in a Monday interview with Fox News, according to a transcript released by the US State Department.

“We’re aware they’re going to happen,” the top US diplomat said. “And even in the agreement what’s abundantly clear, okay, is if Hizballah is about to launch a bunch of rockets against Israel and against the villages to the north, that Israel has a right to address that before it happens.”

Asked if the administration is “open to a scenario where Israel maintains a buffer zone indefinitely inside of Lebanon,” Rubio said, “no.”

“I think the ideal outcome here would be one in which you wouldn’t need an Israeli presence,” Rubio said. “The Israelis will tell you that. They don’t want to permanently be in Lebanon. They are there now as a buffer zone to protect small arms and anti-tank missiles being launched into the villages, and even rockets in many cases from further out. But in the long term, Israel has made no territorial claims on Lebanon.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz has said the Israeli military intends to destroy villages in southern Lebanon and has barred the 600,000 Lebanese who have fled from returning to their homes “until the safety and security of northern Israeli residents is ensured.”

Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich last month suggested annexing southern Lebanon.

A CNN review of satellite imagery shows hundreds of buildings – most of which appear to be homes – have been either completely flattened or rendered uninhabitable in southern Lebanon, and satellite imagery and videos from after the April 16 ceasefire announcement show demolitions continuing apace, with excavators and armored vehicles clearly visible.