US warns Israel against war with Hezbollah

Source: The Guardian

US warns Israel against war with Hezbollah

Warning comes amid visits by Israeli officials to region bordering Lebanon and speculation about an operation

Peter Beaumont
Fri 7 Jun 2024 17.32 BST
Last modified on Fri 7 Jun 2024 18.50 BST

The Biden administration has warned Israel that widening its conflict against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah would risk drawing in Iran, even as Israeli officials said last week they had completed preparations for an operation if it were required.

According to an Axios report quoting two unnamed senior US officials, the administration has told Israel it does not believe “a limited war” in Lebanon or a “small regional war” is a realistic option because it would be difficult to end and be likely to spin out of control.

The warning comes amid mounting speculation that Israel may be considering launching a substantial operation against Hezbollah in the coming months, despite having been dissuaded by Washington from a similar move at the beginning of the war against Hamas eight months ago.

Tensions have increased notably in the past week as a procession of senior Israeli figures have visited the north of their country to talk up preparations for a war in Lebanon after images of widespread wildfires in the region sparked by Hezbollah fire.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jun/07/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-war

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Related: The US warns Israel: 'Limited war' in Lebanon could push Iran to intervene (Walla! via Jerusalem Post)