Blinken warns Israel 'should not lead a protracted campaign' against Hezbollah in Lebanon

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning Israel connected Thursday not to lead a "protracted campaign" against nan violent group Hezbollah successful Lebanon. 

Blinken, who is visiting Qatar for talks to extremity nan warfare successful Gaza, said, "as Israel conducts operations to region nan threat to Israel and its group on nan border, pinch Lebanon, we person been very clear that this cannot lead, should not lead to a prolonged run and that Israel must return nan basal steps to debar civilian casualties and not endanger U.N. peacekeepers aliases nan Lebanese Armed Forces. 

"Right now, we're moving intensely to scope a negotiated solution . . . [that] allows civilians connected some sides of nan separator to return to their homes and to beryllium capable to unrecorded location successful bid and security," Blinken added. "We're besides committed to building up and supporting Lebanese efforts to build up their ain institutions free from nan grip of Hezbollah, truthful that nan people of Lebanon person much security, much opportunity, much prosperity." 

Blinken’s comments travel astir a period aft nan Israeli subject began its constricted crushed operation wrong Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces revealed Thursday that it has recovered different hideout wherever Hezbollah’s typical forces portion was allegedly readying an Oct. 7-style onslaught connected Israel. 

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Smoke rises aft an Israeli airstrike targeting Beirut's confederate suburb of Shayah connected Oct. 22. (Fadel Itani/AFP via Getty Images)

The IDF says its troops discovered "bunk beds, retention cabinets, nutrient supplies, infrastructure for semipermanent stay, a ample magnitude of equipment, weapons and motorboat positions" successful nan underground facility. 

"During these constricted and localized crushed operations successful confederate Lebanon, our troops besides located 4 weapons retention accommodation pinch rockets, mortars, RPGs and more," it added. 

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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, right, meets pinch nan Secretary of State Antony Blinken astatine nan Israeli Defense Ministry successful Tel Aviv, Israel connected Oct. 22. (Ariel Hermoni/IMoD/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The U.S. State Department said Thursday that Blinken "met pinch Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani coming successful Doha," wherever they "discussed renewed efforts to unafraid nan merchandise of nan hostages and extremity nan warfare successful Gaza, arsenic good arsenic ongoing activity to supply for security, governance, and reconstruction successful Gaza aft nan war." 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani locomotion arsenic they be a property conference, successful Doha, Qatar, connected Thursday, Oct. 24. (Nathan Howard/Pool Photo via AP)

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The sojourn comes aft Blinken was successful Israel earlier this week, conscionable days aft Hezbollah launched a drone onslaught to assassinate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu astatine his backstage residence successful Caesarea. 

Fox News’ Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.