U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sole reason Israeli forces remain inside Lebanon is Hezbollah's activity and rocket fire toward Israel, according to N12. The statement reinforces Washington's view that Israel's military presence in southern Lebanon is a direct consequence of Hezbollah's actions.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Wednesday evening that Israeli forces remain in Lebanon solely due to Hezbollah's operations and rocket fire into Israel, according to a report by N12.
The remark appears to endorse Israel's rationale for maintaining a military presence in southern Lebanon beyond the 2020 ceasefire framework, amid ongoing exchanges of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah. The statement aligns with earlier U.S. administration positions: as The Zioneer reported on June 8, Rubio previously said "only stupid countries don't shoot back when fired upon," backing Israel's right to self-defense after an Iranian missile attack. Other reports from recent weeks noted U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth described Israel's Lebanon response as restrained, and that Rubio had earlier characterized Hezbollah's ceasefire offers as unreliable.
Rubio's latest comment does not indicate a new policy shift but reinforces existing U.S. attribution of responsibility for the escalation to Hezbollah. The IDF has not issued a response to the statement. No details were provided on whether the Secretary discussed timelines for an Israeli withdrawal.
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