In the latest U.S. State Department briefing, spokesperson Matthew Miller addressed concerns regarding Israel's ongoing airstrikes on Lebanon's capital, Beirut.

When asked whether the U.S. had requested that Israel cease its bombardment of the city, Miller responded: "We have made clear to Israel that we oppose the bombing campaign that they have been launching in recent weeks in Beirut," he stated, emphasizing that the U.S. government has voiced its disapproval of the strikes targeting the Lebanese capital.

"We have seen strikes diminish in recent days and will continue to watch it very carefully."

However, when pressed on whether the U.S. was asking Israel to refrain from bombing Beirut altogether, the spokesperson acknowledged Israel's right to target terrorist threats.

"They do have a right to go after legitimate terrorist targets. We see Hezbollah continue to operate across Lebanon," he explained.

Despite this, Miller expressed concern over the nature and impact of Israel's recent military actions in Beirut, particularly on civilians.

"We've had real concerns over the nature of the campaign rollout across Beirut in the last few weeks, and we've made those concerns known," he said. "It is largely the civilian [death] toll that has led to the growing concerns of the U.S."

In a separate briefing, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that the U.S. had told Israel "very directly" that it opposes their "near-daily strikes" in densely populated areas in Beirut. 

“We understand that they’re conducting targeted operations designed to go after Hezbollah infrastructure, and we recognize that they have a right to do that, but they also have a commensurate responsibility to do it in a way that doesn’t threaten the lives of civilians, UN peacekeepers or members of the Lebanese armed forces who have suffered some casualties here,” Kirby said. “It’s unacceptable, and we’ve pressed the Israelis for more details about that.”