Despite American efforts to reduce tensions between Hezbollah and Israeli forces along the Lebanon-Israel border, amid fears of war spreading and Iran getting involved, the United States has informed Lebanese authorities that it cannot prevent any Israeli attack on southern Lebanon. Many officials are convinced that an Israeli assault is only weeks away. Accordingly, American officials have conveyed a clear warning to Hezbollah: "Do not assume that Washington can prevent Israel from attacking you," as reported by Politico.
A source familiar with ongoing discussions between the American side and Lebanese authorities confirmed that this indirect message aimed to encourage Hezbollah to de-escalate the rising confrontations along the border.
Additionally, two American officials stated that the Iranian-backed group "must understand well that Washington will assist Israel in defending itself if Hezbollah escalates." They emphasized that the group should not believe that America would act as a restraint on any Israeli attack if it were to occur.
This explicit message or warning comes at a time when many American officials seem resigned to the possibility of a significant Israeli attack against Hezbollah inside Lebanon in the coming weeks. Tensions and clashes between Hezbollah and the Israeli army have escalated on both sides of the border since Israel's assassination of Hezbollah leader Taleb Abdullah about two weeks ago.
Threats between the two sides have also intensified; Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatened in a televised speech last Wednesday to strike all Israeli territories if the war expands, even extending his threats to Cyprus, which he accused of hosting joint exercises with Israeli forces. Meanwhile, the Israeli army announced last week that it had approved plans for a broader offensive in Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also revealed two days ago that fighting in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza would soon end, focusing attention on the northern front, referring to the border with Lebanon.
