US, Europe warn Hezbollah to ease strikes, refrain from escalation

U.S., European, and Arab mediators are working to prevent escalated cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants from escalating into a broader conflict in the Middle East. Concerns have been growing for months about the potential for a wider war.

Efforts to reach a cease-fire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza have not yielded results, leading to increased attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias. In light of the stalled negotiations, American and European officials are cautioning Hezbollah, which is more powerful than Hamas but appears overly confident, about engaging in a military confrontation with Israel, according to current and former diplomats.

These officials are advising Hezbollah not to assume that the United States or any other country can prevent Israeli leaders from executing plans for an offensive into Lebanon. They are also warning that Hezbollah should not rely solely on the capabilities of its fighters to handle the potential consequences.

US, Europe warn Lebanon’s Hezbollah to ease strikes, back off from wider war

Recent cross-border attacks between Israel and Hezbollah, one of the region’s most well-armed forces, have shown signs of leveling off. While strikes continue in the border region, this slight reduction in hostilities offers some hope of alleviating immediate concerns. The U.S. has deployed a Marine expeditionary force aboard an amphibious assault ship to join other warships in the area in an effort to deter a broader conflict.

It remains uncertain whether Israel or Hezbollah has decided to decrease attacks to avoid triggering an Israeli invasion into Lebanon, as noted by Gerald Feierstein, a former senior U.S. diplomat in the Middle East. Despite a temporary lull in violence, preparations for a potential conflict continue on both sides, suggesting the anticipation of a more significant escalation in hostilities.

The message being relayed to Hezbollah is that they should not overestimate their capabilities, according to Feierstein.