US urges Israeli restraint in new offensive
The United States urged Israel to use the "utmost care" in avoiding civilian casualties after the Jewish state decided on Wednesday to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Israel had a right to defend itself from Hizbullah guerrillas in southern Lebanon but that the US was very concerned about the humanitarian situation. "Israel must take the utmost care in avoiding civilian casualties," he told Reuters. (Reuters)
