US President Joe Biden’s Mideast envoy, Amos Hochstein, warned Lebanese officials last week that the United States would be unable to prevent an Israeli invasion if Hezbollah continues its attacks. This information was reported by Axios, citing sources including a US official, an Israeli official, and a Western diplomat.
As reported by the Times of Israel, Hochstein's visit to Lebanon aimed to call for the urgent de-escalation of cross-border fire exchanges between Hezbollah and Israel, which have been ongoing since the start of the Gaza war. He also visited Israel, holding discussions in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and opposition leaders.
In a meeting with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah, Hochstein reportedly conveyed a message for Hezbollah’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, emphasizing that the US does not control Israel’s actions. He advised Hezbollah to negotiate indirectly with Israel rather than escalating border tensions.
According to a Western diplomat cited in the report, Hezbollah responded to the US with messages highlighting its capability to deliver significant blows to Israel, though it expressed a desire to avoid war.
The report also indicates that US officials are increasingly concerned that ongoing fighting in Gaza could make a war between Israel and Hezbollah more likely, potentially escalating regional tensions and involving the US more deeply in the conflict.
Hochstein stressed the need for a diplomatic solution during his visit, stating, "It will take everyone’s interest in ending this conflict now. And we believe that there is a pathway diplomatically to do it if the sides agree to it."
Meanwhile, two of Netanyahu’s top aides were in Washington this week to discuss diplomatic solutions. Axios reports that National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer were assured by Biden’s advisers that the US would fully support Israel if war erupted due to Hezbollah’s actions.
