According to a CNN story, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told an Arab colleague that Israel seemed determined to invade Lebanon during a recent trip to the Middle East.
According to the article, the Arab official responded by highlighting Hezbollah's commitment to keep up its attacks on Israel until Israeli operations in Gaza stop.
But in light of the current conflict in Gaza, Antony Blinken warned Israeli officials that more escalation in Lebanon was necessary.
Concerns over a wider confrontation in the region have arisen as a result of the growing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran.
Israeli officials have informed the US that driving Hezbollah back would be the main goal of any offensive, establishing a safe haven that would enable tens of thousands of Israelis who have been driven from the northern region to return home.
Since earlier intelligence assessments suggested that an Israeli offensive may occur by early summer, the US has been on high alert against any potential entry by Israel. Tensions between the allies have increased as a result of the US's criticism of Israel for its strikes that have affected the Lebanese army rather than Hezbollah objectives.
The Israeli government is under increasing political pressure at home to address the security situation in the north. During an operational inspection at the IDF's Northern Command, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized the need for urgency, saying, "We are achieving readiness on land and in air."
He emphasized how important it is to alter the circumstances in the north in order to guarantee Israeli people a safe return to their homes.
Concerns around the world are mounting over the possibility of a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, which might involve other proxy organizations. In the event of a conflict, US authorities worry about the safety of hundreds of American troops stationed in the Middle East, who would end up as targets for proxy organizations supported by Iran.
Asserting that if war is "imposed" on Lebanon, Hezbollah will fight with "no rules and no ceilings," Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah issued a severe warning on Wednesday, saying that no place would be safe from their attacks, including the eastern Mediterranean region where more than 1,000 US troops are currently stationed.
Nasrallah believes that Hezbollah's ground force, which the Congressional Research Service estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000 fighters, may surpass one million. Numerous combatants, such as the highly skilled Radwan Force, have acquired substantial battle experience in Syria.
The Israel-Lebanon border has been largely peaceful since the 2006 war, with only occasional incidents that were usually settled quickly, despite the historical state of warfare.
But after Hamas' attack on October 7, things have changed drastically, with Hezbollah launching more rocket and drone attacks and the IDF conducting regular operations in southern Lebanon.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, has also voiced dire warnings, threatening to "turn Beirut into Gaza" in the event of conflict.
