{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-shaheen-express-concern-about-violence-in-lebanon-and-push-for-de-escalation", "Van Hollen, Kaine, Shaheen, Express Concern About Violence in Lebanon and Push for De-Escalation", "2024-10-31", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", "vanhollen", "https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern about Israeli military actions that resulted in the deaths of members of the U.S.-supported Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and reiterated the need for de-escalation in the Middle East. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the senators request additional information related to recent reports regarding incidents of the Israeli Defense Forces killing LAF members, U.S. weapons transfers to the region, and U.S. engagement with partners in the region to protect LAF members and civilians.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our serious concern about recent reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon have, on multiple occasions, resulted in the deaths of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe have all stood firm for Israel\u2019s ability to defend itself from external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the people of Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cReports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run contrary to the U.S. interest in de-escalating violence in the region. Actions that destabilize the one institution in Lebanon that can be a bridge to a more peaceful future are also contrary to Israel\u2019s security interests.\u201d\n\nEarlier this month, Kaine, Shaheen, Van Hollen, and U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) expressed concern about the escalation of violence in Lebanon, including the deaths and displacement of civilians and attacks on United Nations peacekeepers.\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nDear Secretaries Blinken and Austin:\n\nWe write to express our serious concern about recent reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon have, on multiple occasions, resulted in the deaths of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members. The most recent incident, caused by an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike on October 20, reportedly killed three LAF soldiers evacuating wounded Lebanese citizens.\n\nWe have all stood firm for Israel\u2019s ability to defend itself from external threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. But the United States has also made a commitment to the people of Lebanon to provide humanitarian assistance and continue to support the LAF. The LAF remains a key sovereign institution within Lebanon and is critical to promoting stability amidst ongoing crises. Reports that Israel is harming LAF forces in its war against Hezbollah run contrary to the U.S. interest in de-escalating violence in the region. Actions that destabilize the one institution in Lebanon that can be a bridge to a more peaceful future are also contrary to Israel\u2019s security interests.\n\nWe ask for you to brief us, by letter or in person, on this critical matter. Specifically:\n\nWhat is your assessment of LAF casualties as a result of IDF military operations? To your knowledge, in what instances were the LAF personnel IDF targets versus killed in action?\n\nIf the personnel were IDF targets, do you see any operational justification for targeting the LAF?\n\nHas Israel communicated their use of U.S.-supplied arms or equipment in these operations?\n\nWhat communication has the U.S. had with Israeli officials to strongly protest against actions leading to LAF casualties?\n\nHas Israel made any commitment to focus its efforts against Hezbollah so as to protect LAF troops, Lebanese citizens and international aid workers?\n\nThank you for your time and attention to this critical request.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-shaheen-express-concern-about-violence-in-lebanon-and-push-for-de-escalation"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.616476034745574, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}