Israel's military is conducting a public-diplomacy effort in the United States and within the Trump administration on its efforts to protect civilians in Lebanon — particularly Christians — according to Army Radio correspondent Moriah Asraf and reporter Doron Kadosh. The push follows President Trump's statements that Israel cannot eliminate a Hezbollah operative without 'bringing down an entire building' and killing many civilians, and that Israel should moderate its operations in Lebanon. Republican Senator Rick Scott tweeted overnight after speaking with IDF Planning Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Eyal Zilberman: 'Israel goes above and beyond to protect the Christian population in Lebanon.'
Against the backdrop of efforts to halt the war in Lebanon and withdraw IDF forces from southern Lebanon, the military has launched a public-diplomacy push in the United States and within the Trump administration on its measures to protect Lebanese civilians — particularly Christians, according to Moriah Asraf and Doron Kadosh of N13 / Army Radio.
The effort follows President Trump's criticism that Israel cannot eliminate a Hezbollah operative without 'bringing down an entire building' and killing many civilians, and that Israel should moderate its operations in Lebanon.
Republican Senator Rick Scott tweeted overnight after speaking with IDF Planning Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Eyal Zilberman, a former IDF attaché in Washington: 'Israel goes above and beyond to protect the Christian population in Lebanon. I just spoke with a senior IDF official, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zilberman, an expert on this issue, who emphasized Israel's tireless work to ensure the safety of the Christian population. Hezbollah, by contrast, does the exact opposite. They place Christians and Lebanese civilians directly in the line of fire. They attack Israel from within Christian population centers and store their terror assets in Christian schools. Israeli officials are in constant contact with leaders of Christian communities in southern Lebanon and provide aid to Christian villages to prevent their dependence on Hezbollah terrorists.'
American war-studies researcher John Spencer also tweeted overnight: 'The IDF takes extraordinary measures to minimize civilian harm in Lebanon. It implements more civilian-harm mitigation measures than any other military — evacuation warnings through multiple channels, dedicated civilian-harm-mitigation cells, monitoring civilian presence via drones, cellular data and other capabilities, and legal reviews of every planned strike. The legal reviews are at the lowest tactical level, with a frequent ability to override commanders' decisions — unlike any other military. Even in Beirut — when targeting senior Hezbollah leaders or command centers in densely populated areas like the Dahiyeh — the IDF uses precision-guided munitions, warheads with less explosive material, precise intelligence, and other methods designed to limit collateral damage.'
As The Zioneer reported (Tue Jun 16), Trump had previously blasted Netanyahu's Lebanon policy and urged Israel to let Syria handle Hezbollah, while a separate report (Jun 16) indicated Netanyahu told the president that strikes had caused 'light casualties' and he expected no Hezbollah response. The current diplomatic push signals an intensified Israeli effort to rebut the criticism and shape American perceptions as ceasefire and withdrawal talks continue.
- DevelopingIsrael and Lebanon set for next round of talks as Trump urges 'softer touch' toward Hezbollah
- StrongGoldblatt: Trump acknowledges Israeli fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue
- ConfirmedTrump Slams Israel's Lebanon Campaign as 'Mini-War,' Suggests Syria Should Handle Hezbollah
- DevelopingSenior Israeli official says forces were at peak readiness for Iran strike before Trump call
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