US threatens Iran, Hezbollah with military intervention - NYT

The Biden administration has sent messages to Iran and Hezbollah saying that the United States is prepared to intervene militarily if they attack Israel. The messages were conveyed through other countries in the region, including Turkey.

This was reported by The New York Times, citing American official sources.

It is also reported that Israel requested 24,000 assault rifles from the US for use by police forces and indicated that they could also be given to civilians.

The request has drawn the attention of several officials in Congress and the US State Department, who fear that the weapons will fall into the hands of settlers, which they say will further escalate the conflict in Judea and Samaria.

The weapons requested by Israel are valued at $34 million and require congressional and State Department approval before they can be sent.

President Joe Biden has raised concerns several times about rising violence in Judea and Samaria that began before the war. US officials attributed the escalation to encouragement of settlers by the right-wing government and statements by Israeli officials supporting the annexation of the territories.

An official with the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs in the United States said that US State Department officials expressed concern to their Israeli counterparts, who assured that the weapons would only be used by police.