US and Europe warn Lebanon’s Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war

Independent

US and Europe warn Lebanon's Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war

Benjamin Netanyahu

Hassan Nasrallah

Najib Mikati

Yair Lapid

Mark Regev

Antony Blinken

Lloyd Austin

Yoav Gallant

Israel Katz

Benny Gantz

Amal Saad

Jonathan Conricus

Amos Harel

Herzi Halevi

Steven A. Cook

Csis

Hilal Khashan

Matthew Miller

National Security Council

Bilal Saab

Bashir Saade

Mona Yacoubian

Maha Yahya

Aaron David Miller

Tal Beeri

Oren Marmorstein

Danny Citrinowicz

Mairav Zonszein

Nicholas Blanford

Imad Salamey

Omar Baddar

Mojtaba Amani

Randa Slim

Masoud Pezeshkian

Amos Hochstein

Mohammad Afif

Amir Avivi

Naim Qassem

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf

Jeffrey Feltman

Salman Zarka

Avraham Levine

"It is in no ones interest — not Israel's, not the region's, not the world's — for this conflict to spread beyond Gaza."

Hezbollah has signalled it "is willing to go all the way" toward a final border settlement if there's a Gaza cease-fire.

"I am doing my duty to prevent Lebanon from entering the war."

"We were not interested in a conflict. But if Hezbollah does start one, it will finish on Israel's terms."

"I don't know when the war in the north [will happen]. I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past."

"The situation on Israel's northern border demands change... [t]he stopwatch for a diplomatic solution is running out."

"We are shifting from being passive to actively pursuing Hezbollah."

"Netanyahu clearly wants war [with Hezbollah]."

"It is likely that there is going to be a war between Hezbollah and Israel within the next six to eight months."

Will There Be an Israel-Hezbollah War?

The US is sending a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, as well as speeding up the travel of an aircraft carrier already en route, in preparation for potential attacks on Israel from Iran and Hezbollah in response to the killings of their military leaders.

The USS Georgia submarine carries up to 154 Tomahawk — which are used to strike land targets — while the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier is carrying about 60 fighter jets, including F-35Cs.

BBC News

Newsweek

According to the US Navy, the submarine, which can carry up to 66 soldiers, was being used by Marines and special forces beginning July 17 to conduct dive training in the Medeterranian. It was then reportedly seen off the coast of a Greek island on Aug. 5.

Israel and the US are expecting attacks for the killing of former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31 and Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr around the same time. This also comes a day after Israel attacked a shelter in Gaza, reportedly killing 90.

Al Jazeera

This also comes after the US, Israel, the UK, France, and Jordan worked together to defend Israel against 300 Iranian missiles and drones launched in April. While that same coalition could be used again, US national security spokesman John Kirby said they "don't want to see escalation."

The Jerusalem Post

The US ha provided little detail regarding a potential attack from Iran or Hezbollah, other than Kirby stating it "could happen as soon as this week." However, life in Beirut, Lebanon, has become tense, with restaurants seen half full and flights out of the country fully booked.

US Sends

The Controversies

Miller

Saad

Mikati

Regev

Halevi

Gantz

Gallant

Khashan

Cook

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