Media: US pledges to protect Israel if Hezbollah retaliates against pager blast

The US is prepared to assist Israel in repelling a possible strike by Hezbollah in response to the detonation of communications devices in Lebanon.

Lebanon witnessed a dramatic and unprecedented scene on September 17,  as pagers exploded simultaneously among Hezbollah fighters across the nation. This sophisticated attack, which combined cyberwarfare with physical sabotage, is widely attributed to Israeli operations, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Although Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, the intricate nature of the attack strongly suggests its involvement. In response, Israeli officials are preparing for potential retaliatory strikes, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict—a scenario that US officials have been working to avoid for nearly a year.

The Biden administration quickly distanced itself from the attack, asserting that he had no prior knowledge of the operation. This incident comes at a particularly delicate time, with less than two months remaining before the presidential election. The timing could jeopardise ongoing efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza and complicate negotiations for the release of Israeli hostages.

On the same day, US officials reached out to Iran through back channels to clarify that the US was not involved in the attack. Currently, there is a belief that Hezbollah might be confused and hesitant to launch an immediate military response. If there is an attack, US officials believe Israel can contain the damage — and that, if necessary, the United States will help defend Israel.