President Joe Biden’s administration is “deeply concerned” that an escalation of violence between Israel and the Lebanese “Hezbollah” group in recent days could escalate into “all-out war” and is trying to prevent that from happening, US officials said.
Time transferAxios“The U.S. is concerned that Israel may rush into a war with or be drawn into Hezbollah without a clear strategy or consideration of the full dynamics of a broader conflict,” the U.S. official noted.
The officials added, “The Biden administration is trying to contain the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah as much as possible, in conjunction with efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement and the release of prisoners in Gaza.”
A U.S. website pointed out that an outbreak of “all-out war” with the Lebanese bloc would greatly worsen the regional crisis and draw the United States deeper into the midst of the most important efforts to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza. Conflict.
In recent weeks, the Biden administration has warned Israel against the idea of waging a “limited war” in Lebanon, stressing that the move could push Iran to “intervene and flood Lebanon with fighters loyal to it.” Yemen that wants to participate in the fight.
The White House has expressed hope that a ceasefire in Gaza is the only way to avoid a significant escalation of tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border.
On Wednesday, the Hezbollah group fired the largest number of rockets into Israel in a single day since cross-border clashes erupted eight months ago, part of a response to an Israeli attack on Tuesday that killed a senior field commander in the group. and three of his assistants in the southern Lebanese city of Jawaya.
Washington insists on “halting escalation”.
On Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a phone call with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, during which he discussed the situation with Lebanon, Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.
Singh added: “We are concerned about the escalation of activity in the North. We do not want this to turn into a large-scale regional conflict and we insist on de-escalation.”
Lebanese Army Chief General Joseph Aoun is scheduled to travel to Washington this week to hold meetings with the White House, Pentagon and members of Congress on the ongoing crisis.
“It’s safe to say that nobody really wants to start a war,” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said during a press conference in Doha on Wednesday.
Blinken added that most parties involved believe there can and should be a diplomatic solution to differences that could lead to a wider conflict.
“What I’ve heard from all the parties involved, and from others working on this matter, is that they very much want a diplomatic solution,” Blinken stressed.
As he traveled with President Biden to attend the G7 summit in Italy on Wednesday, US national security adviser Jack Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One that the US was “particularly concerned” about the shooting along the border with Lebanon.
Sullivan emphasized that the United States is in close consultation with Israel on the matter.
