United States Department of Defence has expressed growing concern that Israel may be on the verge of launching a ground offensive in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday.
The concern follows a wave of deadly explosions involving pagers and walkie-talkies carried by Hezbollah members earlier this week.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had already shared his fears with senior Pentagon officials on Monday, warning that months of escalating rocket and air attacks between Israel and Hezbollah could lead to a broader conflict.
However, US officials noted that there have been no concrete signs of an imminent large-scale war, such as calling up reserves.
This suggests that even if Israel decides to go to war, it may take weeks before they are fully prepared for a major offensive.
Pentagon officials believe Israel could be planning a smaller operation that doesn’t require extensive military movements.
