Bernie Sanders slams Israel, says US 'cannot continue to be complicit' in Netanyahu's wars

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Bernie Sanders has openly criticised Israel over the ongoing Middle East conflict, saying the crisis is not affecting only Iran, but Lebanon as well.

In a post shared on Wednesday, March 11, the Vermont politician argued that the conflict should not be viewed as a US war. He described it as the war of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding that the US “cannot continue” to be involved in it.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu continues military operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The conflict has included heavy airstrikes across parts of the country and plans for a continued Israeli military presence in southern Lebanon.

Bernie Sanders slams Israel over attacks in Lebanon

In his post, Sanders stressed that the crisis is affecting more than one country in the region. He wrote, "It’s not just Iran. It’s Lebanon."

The veteran senator then highlighted the scale of the damage and displacement caused by the conflict, writing, "In less than 2 weeks, Israel has killed 570 people and displaced 750,000 - over 10% of the entire country. Residential buildings are being bombed with no warning."

Sanders concluded his remarks by criticising the US’ role in the situation and calling for a change in approach. He wrote, "The US cannot continue to be complicit in Netanyahu’s wars."

His comments come as tensions continue to rise in the region, with Israel’s military operations linked to clashes with Hezbollah, while concerns grow over the humanitarian situation in Lebanon.

Israel launches fresh strikes on Hezbollah positions as regional tensions escalate

Israel launched fresh attacks on southern Lebanon early on Sunday. The conflict increased after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the next stage of the war would bring “many surprises.”

New strikes targeted several militant leaders, including commanders linked to the Lebanese branch of Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, as per Associated Press.  The attacks in Lebanon came a day after Israel carried out another strike in Tehran.

In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces said it would “not allow Iranian elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory.” The military also said it launched a “wide-scale wave of strikes” against sites linked to Hezbollah. It claimed that dozens of rocket launchers were destroyed and several Hezbollah fighters were “neutralized.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Joseph Aoun told the BBC that Lebanon is willing to hold talks with Israel. However, the official said negotiations cannot happen while Israeli attacks are continuing.