Arabic version: الديمقراطيون يحثون ترامب على تضمين لبنان في وقف إطلاق النار مع إيران

A group of U.S. Democrats has condemned Israel’s escalating attacks on Lebanon, warning that such actions threaten the recently established ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. The situation intensified after Israeli airstrikes killed at least 254 people in Lebanon on Wednesday, prompting calls for President Donald Trump to rein in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Al Jazeera, these comments reflect increasing domestic pressure on Trump to address the ongoing conflict.

Congressman Dave Min voiced his concerns on social media, stating that Netanyahu’s actions are misaligned with American interests and could lead to a broader regional war. Progressive Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley emphasized that the war will persist if the U.S. does not intervene to halt what she termed war crimes in Lebanon.

The Democrats’ statements come after a two-week truce was announced, which Pakistan, acting as a mediator, claimed includes Lebanon. However, Israel launched significant attacks shortly after the ceasefire was declared, contradicting this assertion. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, representing a significant Lebanese community in Michigan, stressed the necessity of including Lebanon in the ceasefire for it to be viable.

Democratic leaders have been vocal about the need for the U.S. to act decisively. Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari called for pressure on Israel to cease its attacks immediately. Meanwhile, some Republican officials, including Congressman Randy Fine, have defended the Israeli strikes, arguing they are targeted at Hezbollah, not Lebanon as a whole. The conflict has escalated since the U.S. and Israel began their military actions against Iran on February 28, resulting in at least 1,497 fatalities in Lebanon since early March.