The United States is actively working to prevent a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon following a deadly rocket attack on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights that resulted in the deaths of 12 children. The US is leading diplomatic efforts to dissuade Israel from targeting Beirut or critical Lebanese infrastructure in retaliation for the attack, which Israel has attributed to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group. Hezbollah, however, has denied any involvement in the assault.
According to Reuters, the US is urging Israel to confine its military response to a limited operation, possibly spanning several days, rather than launching a broad retaliation. Israeli officials have pledged a harsh response but have expressed a desire to avoid a wider conflict. The focus of Washington’s diplomacy is to convince Tel Aviv to refrain from striking densely populated areas such as Beirut and its Hezbollah-dominated southern suburbs, as well as important infrastructure.
Lebanese officials, including Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and Deputy Parliament Speaker Elias Bou Saab, have publicly called for restraint. They have warned of potential repercussions for Israel if it targets civilian areas, though both acknowledged the likelihood of an Israeli retaliation. Bou Habib expressed hope for a limited escalation on both sides, stating, “Israel will escalate in a limited way and Hezbollah will respond in a limited way. These are the assurances we’ve received.”
Despite ongoing diplomatic talks among the US, Lebanon, and Israel to contain the situation, Western diplomats have noted that Israel has not yet committed to avoiding strikes on Beirut or its suburbs. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned of “serious consequences” for Israel if it attacks Lebanon.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has sought to downplay the risk of a full-blown war while reaffirming Washington’s strong support for Israel’s security against Iran-backed threats, including Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a “harsh” response, asserting that, “The state of Israel will not and cannot let this pass. Our response will come and it will be harsh.”
The Israeli security cabinet has authorized Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant to determine the nature and timing of the response to the Hezbollah strike. Gallant has shared evidence with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, implicating Hezbollah in the attack, although the group has “firmly denied” responsibility for the projectiles that hit the village of Majdal Shams.
The Golan Heights, seized by Israel from Syria in the 1967 war and later annexed, remains a contentious area. The recent violence represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, adding to the already tense situation in the region.
