US warns Israel against "limited war" in Lebanon Citing Iranian intervention risk

The Biden administration has cautioned Israel to abandon the idea of a "limited war" in Lebanon, warning that such a move could prompt Iranian intervention, according to two senior U.S. officials and an Israeli official cited by Walla.

The U.S. believes that the notion of a "limited war" or a "small regional war" is unrealistic, as such conflicts could escalate uncontrollably. One scenario presented to Israel suggests that Lebanon could be inundated with terrorists from pro-Iranian militias from Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, potentially joining the conflict.

The confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah has been intensifying, with both sides escalating their attacks in recent weeks. Hezbollah has launched drones and rockets at military targets up to 50 kilometres from the border, causing significant damage, including massive forest fires in northern Israel that took over 48 hours to extinguish.

Hezbollah's UAV attacks have evaded interception by the IDF, and the group has begun launching Burkan rockets with warheads weighing 500-1,000 kg, inflicting severe damage on IDF bases along the border.

During a military cabinet meeting on June 4, the IDF presented several options for expanding the conflict, including a ground invasion to push Hezbollah forces away from the border, according to a senior Israeli official. Since October 7, IDF instructions have focused on defeating Hamas in Gaza and avoiding war in Lebanon.

The Israeli official stressed that a war with Hezbollah or a limited operation in Lebanon would have significant consequences for Israel, likely resulting in an agreement similar to the current negotiations between Israel and Lebanon.

"We have to understand this before we make decisions," the official said.