Hezbollah and Israel exchanged threats following significant escalation, with Hezbollah bombing Haifa for the first time since the war began, while Israel expanded its strikes to areas north of the Litani River, turning the region into a battlefield. The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, warned of the risk of Lebanon becoming “another Gaza” amid the growing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
In an interview with CNN, Guterres expressed his concern, saying, “What worries me is the risk of turning Lebanon into another Gaza,” referring to the Palestinian enclave where a devastating war between Israel and Hamas has been ongoing since October.
Strikes and Escalation
Israel is pushing for a military solution and intensifying the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Tel Aviv had delivered a “series of strikes against Hezbollah,” emphasizing Israel’s determination to return displaced residents from its northern border with Lebanon, where conflict with Hezbollah has persisted for nearly a year. Netanyahu stated, “We delivered a series of strikes Hezbollah never expected. If they didn’t get the message, I assure you, they will.”
Hezbollah, in response, threatened a new phase of combat with Israel, calling it the “Open Account Battle,” following Israel’s assassination of commanders from Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force. The Israeli military claimed it struck around 290 Hezbollah targets, including rocket launchers, vowing even harsher strikes.
The military confrontation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, which intensified following cyberattacks on Hezbollah members across Lebanon, has raised concerns in the Biden administration about the risk of an all-out war. However, U.S. officials hope that increasing Israeli military pressure will push Hezbollah to agree to diplomatic terms to return civilians to their homes on both sides of the border, according to American sources speaking to Axios.
Diplomatic Talks and U.S. Warnings
In a statement, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Hezbollah is “feeling the impact of Israeli military power” and promised the military operations would continue until Israel can guarantee the safe return of northern Israeli communities. He reiterated, “This is our goal, and this is our mission, and we will use the necessary means to achieve it.”
Meanwhile, White House spokesman John Kirby warned that military escalation is not in Israel’s best interest, particularly considering the developments between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah. In an interview with ABC News, Kirby reiterated that the U.S. has communicated this directly to Israeli officials, urging diplomatic efforts to avoid the conflict spiraling into a full-scale war.
The U.S. and Israel are also exploring ways to decouple Hezbollah from Hamas, despite diplomatic efforts by the Biden administration in recent months. However, Hezbollah has refused any ceasefire agreement with Israel before the war on Gaza ends.
Continued Diplomacy
The U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, along with Biden’s advisors Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein, conducted multiple calls with their Israeli counterparts over the weekend. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is expected to arrive in Israel today (Monday) to prevent further escalation between Israel and Hezbollah. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati canceled his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly due to the ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.
Israeli and U.S. officials noted that the Biden administration has requested Tel Aviv to refrain from ground invasions or widespread airstrikes in civilian areas to avoid escalating the conflict into a full-blown war and to continue diplomatic efforts.
