The Biden administration has privately urged Israel not to launch a military campaign against Hezbollah as Washington tries to prevent the current war from spreading beyond Gaza, two officials familiar with the matter told The Times of Israel.ro.

Joe Biden and Benjamin NetanyahuPhoto: Evan Vucci/AP/Profimedia

The US acknowledges that Israel must respond to increased attacks on its northern border by Hezbollah following the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Repeated attacks by Lebanese terrorists and Israel’s failure to anticipate a Hamas attack on Gaza have fueled debate over whether Israel should launch an offensive against Hezbollah to maintain its advantage.

Such talks have worried the US, which has privately and publicly warned Hezbollah and Iran not to start a war on Israel’s northern front, officials said.

The US also warned Israel to be cautious in its military response to Hezbollah fire, explaining that a mistake by the Israeli military in Lebanon could trigger a much bigger war, the officials added.

Representatives of the Biden administration have assured Israel in recent days that if Hezbollah starts a war against Israel, the US military will join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the fight against the terrorist group. The Pentagon has already sent two aircraft carrier strike groups to the eastern Mediterranean, near Israel, to deter Israeli and American adversaries in the region.

Hezbollah fired dozens of anti-tank guided missiles, rockets and mortars at Israeli military positions and Israeli cities after the Hamas attack on October 7, and sent gunmen to infiltrate Israel. Several drones were also intercepted over northern Israel.

At least five Israeli soldiers, 13 Hezbollah terrorists and five Palestinians from other terrorist groups were killed in these exchanges. An Israeli civilian was killed in a Hezbollah attack on Sunday, two Lebanese civilians and a Reuters journalist were also killed by Israeli fire.

Read also:

  • How powerful is Hezbollah? Can it support a war with Israel?
  • What is the Palestinian group Hamas?
  • What is known about Islamic Jihad, the Palestinian group that allegedly attacked Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza?