Biden and aides advise Israel to avoid hitting Hezbollah

U.S. Officials learned that Israel's defense minister and other military officials supported a preemptive strike against Hezbollah. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was cautious.

President Biden and his top aides urged Israeli leaders not to carry out a major strike against Hezbollah, the Lebanon's powerful militia, which could draw it into Israel's war with Hamas, U.S. and Israeli officials say.

U.S. officials worry that some of the most hawkish members of the Israeli war cabinet wanted to confront Hezbollah even as Israel began a long conflict against Hamas after the October 7 attacks. The Americans are making the Israelis understand the difficulties of fighting both Hamas to the south and a much more powerful Hezbollah force to the north.

States -U.S. officials believe Israel would be locked in a two-front war and that such a conflict could attract both the United States and Iran, the militia's main backer.

Effort from the top U.S. officials tasked with countering an Israeli offensive against Hezbollah, reported in detail here for the first time, reveal the Biden administration's concerns about Israel's war plans Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his aides, even as the two governments strive to present a strong, united coalition. in public.

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