US to Israel: You can escalate against Hezbollah - but don't go all the way

An analysis of American reactions and statements regarding Israel's recent escalation of attacks against Hezbollah through a number of directions suggests increased flexibility for Israel - but not unlimited flexibility.

According to Kann News reporter Amichai Stein, the United States is effectively telling Israel that it can hit Hezbollah harder but that it shouldn't "go to the top step in the response ladder," whether this be in the form of a ground invasion or perhaps in striking civilian infrastructure which is also being used by Hezbollah.

The reason for this, according to Stein, is that the United States wants to leave room, however small, for a possible political settlement of the conflict in the north, and they think that a wholesale escalation would foreclose such a possibility.