Politico: US fears full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah

U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration fears a full-scale war between Israel and the Shiite movement Hezbollah amid a communications detonation in Lebanon earlier this week and an Israeli airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on Friday, Politico reported, citing unnamed U.S. officials.

According to the publication, officials believe the attacks could be the beginning of a larger Israeli military campaign in southern Lebanon.

“U.S. officials expect fighting between Israel and Hezbollah to intensify significantly in the coming days, potentially leading to a full-scale war between the two sides … The latest analysis inside (US President Joe) Biden’s administration shows that it will be hard for both sides to resort to de-escalation,” two senior US officials familiar with the discussions told the publication.

One of the unnamed officials told Politico that attacks in Lebanon, specifically in the capital Beirut, will continue, and the U.S. believes Hezbollah will retaliate against Israel, possibly with drone attacks. In addition, another unnamed U.S. official believes the fighting will also include assassinations of Hezbollah commanders, strikes on weapons depots, and strikes on the movement’s communications infrastructure.

Two unnamed officials noted that periodic clashes in northern Israel are unlikely to lead to a direct confrontation with Lebanon. However, attacks inside Israel or Lebanon are “alarming” and would only increase tensions.

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