WASHINGTON: The United States is confident that a broader war between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group can be avoided despite a deadly rocket attack in the annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 persons, the White House said Monday.
The White House emphasized that fears of a full-blown conflict are “exaggerated” and assured that diplomatic efforts are ongoing to prevent further escalation.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reported that US and Israeli officials engaged in “multiple levels” of discussions over the weekend regarding the recent attack. Kirby assured reporters that the risk of a larger war remains low, despite heightened regional tensions. “Nobody wants a broader war, and I’m confident that we’ll be able to avoid such an outcome,” Kirby said.
“We all heard about this ‘all-out war’ at multiple points over the last 10 months, those predictions were exaggerated then, quite frankly, we think they are exaggerated now.”
The deadly rocket strike, which hit the Golan Heights on Saturday, has been attributed by both Israel and the United States to Hezbollah, the Lebanese group. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged a “severe response” as he visited the attack site in Majdal Shams. The incident has intensified concerns that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could spread to Lebanon.
Despite the rising tensions, Kirby said that current developments should not disrupt ongoing ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. “We don’t see any indications at this point in time that there’s going to be a significant impact,” he said.
In the wake of the attack, several airlines have suspended flights to Beirut, reflecting heightened security concerns. Air France and its subsidiary Transavia France announced the suspension of flights between French airports and Beirut on Monday and Tuesday due to the “security situation” in Lebanon. Lufthansa and Royal Jordanian also halted services to the Lebanese capital, citing similar concerns.
The suspension of flights has caused significant disruptions at Beirut’s airport, where travelers, including families and businesspeople, faced delays amid the sweltering heat. A Greek airport source confirmed the cancellation of an Aegean Airlines flight to Beirut on Sunday night, and Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines adjusted its flight schedule due to “technical reasons related to the distribution of aircraft insurance risks.”
The cross-border violence, which began on October 7 with an attack by Hamas, has already led to significant casualties. According to AFP, at least 529 people have been killed in Lebanon, mostly civilians. On the Israeli side, 22 soldiers have lost their lives.
