Biden administration intervenes to prevent Israeli retaliation

The Americans conveyed unofficial information about actions taken by the US authorities after the tragic events related to the Hezbollah rocket attack on 27 July. The rocket killed twelve children on a football field in Majdal Shams in the northern part of the Golan Heights.

Since last year, Israel has been conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip. The conflict started with a Hamas attack on 7 October. Now, Tel Aviv has announced retaliation against Hezbollah operating in Lebanon, supported by Iran.

The Joe Biden administration, according to unofficial information, had warned Israel that if it attacks targets in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, it could lead to unimaginable escalation. Then, as the American service Axios quoted, the situation would likely spiral out of control.

Hezbollah denies that the rocket that killed the children was fired by its fighters. However, both Tel Aviv and Washington are aware that Hezbollah is responsible for the attack.

American intelligence has long had evidence that this conflict could trigger a larger war in the Middle East. President Biden's advisor, Amos Hochstein, spoke with Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, about the fact that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hezbollah but must prevent escalation and the death of more civilians.

National Security Council spokeswoman at the White House, Adrienne Watson, stated that Hezbollah was responsible for the attack in the Golan Heights in which children were killed. She also noted that the Biden administration is working to calm the situation at the Israel-Lebanon border so that residents on both sides could return to their homes.