US preventing Lebanon war before elections, claims ex Israeli consul

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
15 Jun 2024 23:26
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Former Israeli Consul in Los Angeles Yaki Dayan emphasizes that the US is exercising restraint over "Israel", aiming to avoid escalation and large-scale war in the Northern region.

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A fire broke out as a result of rockets launched from Lebanon, next to the northern settlement of Kiryat Shmona, on May 10, 2024. (AFP)

Former Israeli Consul in Los Angeles, Yaki Dayan, stated that the United States is actively working to avoid a full-blown war with Lebanon before November 5. Dayan emphasized the US's concerted efforts to prevent such a scenario from unfolding.

Dayan told Israeli Channel 12 that "Israel is restrained by the United States, which opposes escalation and a widescale conflict in the North, preferring instead to manage the situation there."

He elaborated, saying, "From the American perspective, there's a direct link between the fighting in Gaza and the situation in the North. For them, once the Gaza conflict subsides, they can potentially offer a solution in the North."

Dayan further claimed, "Until November 5th, the Americans do not want to see a widescale escalation in the North, as it could attract Iranians to the region."

"The Americans are determined," he said, adding that this week, Amos Hochstein, along with Tzachi Hanegbi and Ron Dermer, traveled to Washington specifically to discuss this issue. Additionally, the CENTCOM commander held meetings with Lebanese generals to address the situation.

Political commentator Dana Weiss from Channel 12 previously noted, "The images we saw this week in the North were very concerning here, and also raised concerns at the White House, as they least want to see a widescale conflict in the North."

US warns 'Israel' of escalation with Hezbollah, all-out war: Axios

Washington has "grown extremely concerned" that escalation on the Northern Front between Hezbollah and the Israeli occupation in recent days will lead to an "all-out war," Axios reported on Thursday.

According to US officials, President Joe Biden's administration is "scrambling" to prevent a larger-scale war between the Resistance in Lebanon and "Israel".

The news outlet explained that the Biden administration has cautioned the Israeli government against the notion of "a limited war" in Lebanon, saying that such an event would lead to other actors participating in the conflict, including Iran.

Axios affirmed that the US is concerned about Israeli officials hurtling the occupation into a war with the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon - Hezbollah, "or getting dragged into one."

Moreover, the White House has affirmed that a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is "the only thing that would significantly de-escalate the tensions" on the Lebanese-Palestinian border. This has been reiterated by top Hezbollah officials for months, as the Resistance insists on carrying on with its operations in support of the Palestinian people until the war on Gaza ends.

A larger-scale war with Hezbollah is expected to be detrimental to the Israeli occupation, due to the faction's advanced military capabilities, especially in terms of its precision missile arsenal and war-hardened special forces. Both US and Israeli officials are aware of the matter, however, recent escalation by the Israeli occupation, particularly after a Hezbollah leader, martyr Talib Sami Abdallah, was assassinated on Tuesday, has further ignited the fire in the North.

The event led to an urgent phone call between US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant. The news outlet also reported that the Commander-in-Chief of the Lebanese Armed Forces will visit US officials at the White House and the Pentagon next week.

"We are concerned about an increase in activity in the north. We don't want this to escalate to a broad regional conflict and we urge de-escalation," deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters following the call.

The recent escalation, marked by the assassination of martyr Abdallah, has been met by Hezbollah's fighters who launched 19 operations, including substantial attacks on key Israeli infrastructure, on Wednesday.

Resistance leaders have maintained that forces are ready to face increased Israeli aggression and match escalation at any point. Moreover, the Resistance has affirmed that it will not stop its military support to the Palestinian people until the war on Gaza ends, which directly links its operations to the future of the Gaza Strip.