Israel’s talk of expanding war to Lebanon alarms U.S. © Avi Ohayon/AP
Washington Post: Israel’s talk of expanding war to Lebanon alarms U.S.
ISTANBUL — President Biden has dispatched his top aides to the Middle East with a critical objective: Prevent a full-blown war from erupting between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
Israel has made clear it views as untenable the regular exchange of fire between its forces and Hezbollah along the border and may soon launch a major military operation in Lebanon.
“We prefer the path of an agreed-upon diplomatic settlement,” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Friday, “but we are getting close to the point where the hourglass will turn over.”
U.S. officials are concerned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may see an expanded fight in Lebanon as key to his political survival amid domestic criticism of his government’s failure to prevent Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack, which killed an estimated 1,200 people and resulted in some 240 hostages being taken to Gaza.
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WNU Editor: Not surprised that the U.S. is alarmed on what is happening. The rhetoric from Israel on launching a major offensive against Hezbollah has been consistent for the past few weeks …. Israel warns of ‘short window’ to remove Hezbollah from Lebanon border (The Telegraph). More here …. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns Hezbollah ‘no terrorist is immune’ raising US fears conflict could now spread to Lebanon (Daily Mail).