The U. S. told Hezbollah it may not be able to prevent an Israeli attack in South Lebanon, Politico said in a report. The unusual message came as U.S. President Amos Hochstein was attempting to prevent an all-out war on Israel's north amid intensifying fire between the IDF and the Iran-backed terror group.
Hezbollah must understand that Washington would help Israel defend itself if the Lebanon-based group retaliates against an Israeli offensive on Lebanon, sources told the news outlet.
“Israel’s gotta do what they gotta do,” a Defense Department official said.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will meet U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Tuesday to discuss the crisis on Israel's northern border as well as the war in Gaza and the threats posed by Iran.
“We think there ought to be a diplomatic resolution to the conflict across the Israel-Lebanon border that is keeping tens of thousands of families on each side of the border from returning to their homes,” Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesperson, told reporters Monday.
Politico reported that U.S. intelligence officials believe that Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah doesn’t want a war but assess that there is an increasing risk that one may break out over a miscalculation on either side.
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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken
(Photo: Defense Ministry )
Sources said Israel made "compelling arguments," why it may have to launch an offensive to remove Hezbollah from its northern border and allow its tens of thousands of displaced residents back to their communities.