The United States appeared out of step with the rest of the world when it pledged support for Israel's ground attack on Lebanon.

As voices from around the world urged a ceasefire and a retreat from the brink of all-out war on Tuesday, Washington declared the “limited” ground offensive in southern Lebanon to be Israel's “right to defend itself.”

Israeli troops advanced into Lebanon overnight on Tuesday in a highly anticipated move. The military said in a statement that the raids were “limited, localized and targeted” against Hezbollah.

However, the advance raises the risk of a further escalation in fighting with the Iran-backed armed group or even across the region, and the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Japan have all been quick to express their concerns.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that Washington agreed on the need for a ground offensive to clear Lebanon's southern border area of ​​Hezbollah weapons and other assets that could be used to attack across the border could use.

“I have made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself,” Austin said.

I spoke today with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss security developments and Israeli operations. I have made it clear that the United States supports Israel's right to self-defense. We agreed on the need to dismantle the attack infrastructure along the border…

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) October 1, 2024

The White House National Security Council issued a similar statement on Tuesday justifying Israel's “limited operations.”

She also added that she remained opposed to the expansion of ground attacks and that a diplomatic solution was the only way to achieve lasting stability along Israel's border with Lebanon.

“Most Dangerous”

Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati warned that his country was facing “one of the most dangerous periods in its history” and called on the United Nations to provide aid to a million people displaced by Israeli attacks in recent weeks.

“We urgently call for more assistance to strengthen our ongoing efforts to provide essential support to displaced civilians,” Mikati said at a meeting with UN officials.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon Imran Riza announced the launch of a $426 million “rapid appeal” for urgent humanitarian assistance to civilians caught up in the conflict.

“Without sufficient resources, humanitarian workers risk leaving the population of an entire country without the support they desperately need,” Riza warned.

However, he added that no amount of aid could fully address the crisis if civilians continued to be targeted.

Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the UN rights office, warned of “a large-scale ground invasion” that would only lead to “greater suffering.”

“Territorial integrity”

The new phase of the Israeli operation quickly raised alarm in the Middle East.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon condemned the offensive, saying it violated Lebanon's “sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The UAE Foreign Ministry expressed “deep concern” about the escalation of fighting and “reiterated its unwavering position on Lebanon’s unity, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The statement called for international support to prevent further escalation and stressed the importance of providing full protection to civilians.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has “ordered the delivery of an urgent $100 million aid package to the Lebanese people,” the ministry added.

Qatar's Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulaziz al-Khulaifi warned on X that “aggression against Lebanon will bring the worst.”

“Now more than ever, our unwavering support is needed to ensure the integrity and security of the country. Standing with the brotherly people of Lebanon is not only a moral duty, but an imperative,” he said.

Wider response was unanimous, calling for an end to hostilities and warning of the dangers of a regional conflagration.

The Japanese government called for an immediate ceasefire and maximum restraint to prevent further escalation of the conflict.

Russia warned that “the geography of hostilities is increasing, further destabilizing the region and increasing tensions.”

Spain's foreign minister called on Israel to stop its ground attacks to avoid conflict in the region.

Italy, president of the Group of Seven (G7) of wealthy democracies, said it would continue to work towards de-escalation.

New NATO chief Mark Rutte said he was “closely following what is happening in Lebanon” and expressed hope that “hostilities will end as soon as possible.”

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned that the cost of a regional war would be enormous. He added that London was speaking to Iranian counterparts and urging restraint, but made no mention of similar contact with Israel.

North arrows

Israel launched the attack on Lebanon dubbed “Northern Arrows” on Monday evening – its first ground offensive into Lebanon since the 2006 war – after more than a week of intense air strikes on the capital Beirut and southern Lebanon.

Those raids left hundreds of people dead, including senior Hezbollah commanders and the armed group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The Israeli army claims its ground invasion is aimed at pushing Hezbollah back north of the Litani River, about 30 km (18 miles) from the Israel-Lebanese border, making the group comply with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.

On Tuesday, the UN peacekeeping force UNIFIL warned that “any crossing into Lebanon constitutes a violation of Lebanese sovereignty and territorial integrity and a violation of Resolution 1701.”