The Times of Israel reported yesterday (with subsequent updates) that the Biden administration has privately been urging Israel not to also launch a military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The U.S. recognizes that Israel must respond to the increased targeting of its northern border by Hezbollah since the shock Hamas onslaught on Oct. 7, unnamed officials clarified. But they said that the repeated attacks by Hezbollah, and the fact that Israel failed to anticipate the brutal assault by Hamas from Gaza, have led to the intensification of discussions as to whether Israel must be the one to initiate a battle against Hezbollah in order to maintain the upper hand.
Biden officials have indicated to Israel in recent days that, if Hezbollah initiates a war against Israel, the U.S. military will join the IDF in fighting the terror group, the sources maintained. Biden, however, in remarks to reporters after leaving Israel, claimed it “was never said” that, in the event of a front with Hezbollah, the U.S. would join.
