Biden: Northern Israelis, southern Lebanese must be able to return home safely

“We don't want to see escalation. We don't want to see a second war, a second front in this war opened up at the border with Lebanon,” the US's John Kirby stressed.

 US President Joe Biden looks on during his visit at the Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, US, March 26, 2024. 'There is one ‘righteous man in his generation’ – Biden is the Noah of our story, contributing from his experience to our doctrine of poverty, fundamentalism, and terror,” (photo credit: REUTERS/ELIZABETH FRANTZ/FILE PHOTO)
US President Joe Biden looks on during his visit at the Chavis Community Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, US, March 26, 2024. 'There is one ‘righteous man in his generation’ – Biden is the Noah of our story, contributing from his experience to our doctrine of poverty, fundamentalism, and terror,”
(photo credit: REUTERS/ELIZABETH FRANTZ/FILE PHOTO)

"We have to make sure that the people of northern Israel as well as southern Lebanon are able to get back to their homes, and get back safely," US President Joe Biden told reporters at the White House on Friday after the Israeli army killed Radwan Force commander and head of Hezbollah Operations, Ibrahim Aqil.

The United States is not involved in the IDF attacks on Lebanon, US National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters earlier on Friday.

“There was no US involvement,” Kirby said, adding, "we believe that there is still time and space for diplomacy to work.”

Smoke rises from Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 20, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)
Smoke rises from Beirut southern suburbs, Lebanon September 20, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/MOHAMED AZAKIR)
The US does not want to see an escalation

“We don't want to see escalation. We don't want to see a second war, a second front in this war opened up at the border with Lebanon,” Kirby stressed, adding that “everything we're doing is going to be involved in trying to prevent that outcome.”

"There is no reason for an expanded military conflict in Lebanon to be inevitable,” Kirby stated.