Three American officials expressed concerns to CNN that if a full-scale war breaks out between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group may be able to bypass Israeli air defenses in the north, including the Iron Dome. There are increasing worries, which the U.S. officials said Israel has also communicated to them, that the Iron Dome may be vulnerable to Hezbollah's massive arsenal of rockets and drones. Israel has increasingly indicated that it is preparing for ground and air incursions into Lebanon. Israeli officials have informed the United States that they plan to shift resources from southern Gaza to northern Israel in preparation for a potential attack against the group, according to officials speaking to CNN on Wednesday. A senior U.S. administration official stated, "We estimate that at least some Iron Dome batteries will not withstand." An Israeli official speculated that this scenario would come to pass if Hezbollah launched a large-scale attack using precision-guided weapons, which could be difficult for the defense system to counter.
"Very Dangerous Period"
A senior official in the Biden administration warned that "we are entering a very dangerous period... something could start without warning." He stated that the implications of a large-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah could be devastating, as the latter possesses a stockpile of rockets, missiles, and drones that is several times larger and more advanced than that of Hamas. Another official noted that the chances of war are increasing as hopes for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas fade. The American officials did not explicitly tell Israel that they oppose any attack against Hezbollah, but they are warning that its actions could lead to a larger war that neither side actually wants, according to a source. He added that Israel has argued it can launch a "blitzkrieg," but the United States warns it may not be able to ensure that this campaign remains limited.
