US senator suggests that killing of Lebanese civilians is necessary collateral

US Republican Senator and staunch ally of President Donald Trump, Lindsey Graham, suggested on Thursday that the killing of Lebanese civilians by Israel is necessary collateral in the fight against Hezbollah.

"To my friends in Lebanon, I understand being upset when innocent people are killed or harmed by Israeli military operations designed to suppress Hezbollah, a historical threat to the State of Israel," Graham wrote on X.

"However, I firmly believe that Israel’s military incursions into Lebanon are designed to suppress the reemergence of Hezbollah - a radical, Islamic terrorist organization tied to Iran that has been threatening and attacking Israelis, Americans, and Lebanese for decades," he added.

"If Hezbollah were disarmed, Israel’s military actions would cease. There have been encouraging statements coming from Lebanon about the desire to disarm Hezbollah, turning over all weapons to the Lebanese military. These statements need to be acted upon in a real way. The idea of the Lebanese military joining forces with Hezbollah to combat Israel would put in jeopardy everything that I and many others are trying to do to help Lebanon move forward".