The possibility of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon; US Secretary of State is trying to prevent the war from spreading

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the need to prevent war in Lebanon during a meeting with Israeli officials on Thursday.

Blinken met with Tzaky Hamby, chairman of Israel’s National Security Council, and Ron Diemer, minister of strategic affairs, the State Department announced.

The announcement said the top U.S. diplomat called for a diplomatic solution for the return of Israelis and Lebanese to their homes.

In recent days, Israel has frequently talked about its action plans against Lebanon.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has warned that Israel is close to making a final decision on war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, but the United States is concerned about opening a new front against Israel in the region.

The Times of Israel magazine wrote that the United States is worried that in the event of an all-out war with Hezbollah, Israel’s Iron Dome defense system will not be sufficient to cope with it.

According to this magazine, Blinken emphasized the United States’ obligations regarding Israel’s security.

Israel’s armed forces chief of staff, Major General Hertz Siloy, said Israel is aware of Hezbollah’s combat capabilities and has ways to address its threats. He added that Israel has many capabilities, but according to him, the enemy is only familiar with some of them.

On the other hand, Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned that if the war spreads, no part of Israel will be safe from the group’s drone and rocket attacks.

Meanwhile, CNN reported on Thursday that senior US officials are concerned that in the event of a large-scale war, Israel’s entire air defense system, including the Iron Dome, will not be able to effectively respond to possible attacks by Hezbollah.

The U.S. estimates that at least parts of the Iron Dome defense system would not be fully effective against missiles if war broke out, according to the officials.

Israel is moving its equipment from the Gaza Strip to northern Israel in preparation for a possible Hezbollah attack, Israeli officials told their American counterparts, CNN reported.

Israel’s Iron Dome defense system has blocked thousands of Palestinian rockets from hitting southern Israel, but Hezbollah rockets in northern Israel have destroyed some vacant homes and set forests on fire.