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Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Counterpart; White House Dismisses Escalation Concerns
Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli Counterpart; White House Dismisses Escalation Concerns
National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby Downplays “All-Out War Scenario” Between Lebanon and Israel
On Monday morning, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin spoke with his Israeli counterpart ahead of an anticipated Israeli military operation in Lebanon, a US official reported. Meanwhile, the White House sought to allay fears of an impending “all-out war.”
US officials anticipate an Israeli response to a recent attack in the occupied Golan Heights that targeted a group of children. The attack, which Washington attributes to a Hezbollah missile, resulted in the deaths of at least 12 children. Despite Hezbollah's denial of responsibility, US officials assert that the group launched the missile, likely mistakenly targeting a football field.
Following the incident, Israel’s security cabinet authorized the Netanyahu government to undertake a military response. “A response is coming,” a US official told Al Arabiya English, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The specifics of the Israeli response remain unclear, but US military forces in the region are preparing for potential retaliatory attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.
Despite predictions of an escalation, US officials believe there is still time for a diplomatic solution to ease tensions along the Blue Line. Late Sunday, the top US diplomat spoke with the Israeli president, stressing the importance of preventing escalation along the Lebanon-Israel border and exploring diplomatic efforts to allow citizens on both sides to return home.
Addressing reporters on Monday, National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby described the “all-out war scenario” as “exaggerated.” He emphasized Israel’s right to self-defense and expressed confidence that the situation would not escalate into a full-scale war. “We certainly don’t believe that, as horrific as this attack was... that it needs to result in any kind of escalation,” Kirby said.
Senior State Department diplomat Richard Verma visited Beirut last week to discuss support for US citizens amid the evolving security situation. He also traveled to Cyprus to review crisis management logistics and met with US military and diplomatic personnel at Incirlik Air Base to assess resources for crisis preparedness.
Amid the tensions, Lebanon’s flag carrier and other international airlines have canceled or delayed flights into Beirut. Middle East Airline’s Chairman Mohammed al-Hout stated there was no specific threat to Beirut’s airport. However, the US Embassy in Beirut advised US citizens traveling to or from Lebanon to monitor their flight status closely and prepare for possible changes to itineraries due to the complex security environment.
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