A senior American official stated that the Biden administration will provide Israel with the necessary security assistance, although the United States will not deploy ground forces if the conflict escalates. American officials expect Israel to respond vigorously if Hezbollah significantly expands its attacks and if Israelis are killed.
Sources indicated that senior Israeli officials, including Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, have discussed a wide range of topics this week during a series of meetings with Biden administration officials, such as National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and White House Middle East Coordinator Brett McGurk. These discussions included issues regarding escalation with Lebanon and Iran, a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, as well as negotiations for Israeli hostages, according to CNN.
These confirmations came despite Washington's repeated calls in recent weeks for de-escalation between the two sides along the Lebanese-Israeli border. The U.S. emphasized that it does not wish to see another war erupt on Israel's northern front, urging diplomatic de-escalation as well. However, confrontations continued to escalate along the borders, putting American officials on high alert for the possibility of a comprehensive conflict in the region.
It is noteworthy that the Israeli delegation's visit to Washington occurred amidst unprecedented escalation with Hezbollah since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. This visit followed clear American frustration over Prime Minister Netanyahu's recent public accusations against the U.S. of withholding arms and munitions from Israel just days earlier.
