1Berita English – U.S. President Joe Biden is reportedly concerned about the possibility of Israel expanding the conflict into Lebanon. Biden has begun sending officials to prevent an escalation between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
According to The Washington Post, Biden’s move comes after Israel recently signaled its intention to launch a large-scale military operation in Lebanon. This military operation follows escalating tensions between Zionist forces and Hezbollah, which have become increasingly inevitable.
“We prefer a diplomatic solution, but we are approaching a point where the hourglass will be turned,” said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday (5/1).
U.S. officials are worried that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might indeed escalate the conflict into Lebanon as a maneuver to maintain power amid domestic political turmoil following the failure to deter the Hamas attack on October 7.
In private conversations, the U.S. government has cautioned Israel that an escalation in the conflict in Lebanon will only weaken Israel due to its thinning forces.
Some U.S. officials argue that the Israeli forces may not be able to handle Lebanon because the Israeli Air Force has already been extensively engaged in aggression in Gaza. Pilots are fatigued, and aircraft need maintenance before being deployed for combat again. This condition is seen as potentially putting Israeli forces in a more dangerous situation than in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s recent trip to the Middle East is considered by some as an effort by the U.S. to prevent the expansion of the conflict in the region, according to Blinken’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller.
“No one wants this conflict to spread beyond Gaza, whether it’s Israel, the region, or the world,” Miller said.
According to some U.S. officials, Hezbollah itself wants to avoid a hot conflict with Israel. This was emphasized in a speech by Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah on Friday (5/1), stating that he is likely open to negotiate on border demarcation with Israel.
In recent weeks, clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah along the border of the two countries have intensified. The intensity has reached the positions of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), forces funded and trained by the U.S. since October 7.
On December 5, four rounds of Israeli tank fire killed an LAF soldier and injured three others. On December 8, Israeli artillery shells containing white phosphorus hit an LAF facility, injuring an LAF soldier.
Then, on November 4, Israeli fire on LAF positions in Sarda left a large hole in the LAF structure, according to U.S. intelligence reports.
Despite considering the LAF as the primary defender of Lebanon’s sovereignty and a counterbalance to Hezbollah’s influence in the country, the U.S. is concerned that it could be directly involved if the Israel-Lebanon conflict escalates. Additionally, Washington worries that Iran and several other proxies may be dragged into the conflict due to their support for Hezbollah.
The White House National Security Council has affirmed that Washington has conveyed to Israel that attacks on the LAF and Lebanese civilians are “absolutely unacceptable.”
The U.S. is concerned about being directly involved if the Israel-Lebanon conflict escalates. Furthermore, Washington is worried that Iran and several other proxies may be dragged into the conflict due to their support for Hezbollah.
The U.S. fears that this conflict could surpass the bloodshed during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war due to Hezbollah’s significantly larger long-range and precision weaponry compared to Israel.
“The casualty count in Lebanon could range from 300,000 to 500,000 and would require massive evacuations from across northern Israel,” said Lebanon expert at the Middle East Institute, Bilal Shab.
