US backs Israeli strikes on Baalbek in Lebanon

As Israel on Wednesday bombed the city of Baalbek - a United Nations-designated world heritage site - the US said that it backs that operation. 

"We support their right to go after legitimate Hezbollah targets, but in doing so, it is critical that they do so in a way that does not threaten the lives of civilians," State Department spokesperson Matt Miller told reporters.

"It's important that they not threaten the lives of journalists, UN peacekeepers, members of the Lebanese Armed Forces," he added. "And it's also critical that civilian infrastructure and significant cultural heritage sites can be protected."

Israeli forces had earlier issued evacuation orders for Baalbek.

"The campaign they're conducting in Lebanon should not - cannot, must not - look like the campaign that they have conducted in Gaza, and we do not want to see that type of widespread damage," Miller said.