US warns Israel against targeting Hezbollah in Beirut after deadly strike

The Biden administration warned Israel if it hits Hezbollah targets in Beirut in response to a deadly strike on the Golan Heights on July 27 "the situation would likely spiral out of control," according to one Israeli official and one US official,reported from Axios.

The Israeli security cabinet convened on July 28 to discuss the military response to the rocket attack that killed 12 children and teenagers, including an option to conduct strikes in Lebanon's capital, Israeli officials said.

Israel blamed Saturday's deadly strike on Hezbollah and US officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, said it is the US assessment that Hezbollah fired the rocket. Hezbollah denied responsibility.

On Saturday, President Biden's senior adviser Amos Hochstein spoke to Israel's Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and told him Israel has the right to defend itself against Hezbollah, but must avoid an all-out escalation and minimize civilian casualties, an Israeli official said.

The Israeli official said Hochstein expressed concern that if the IDF strikes Beirut, Hezbollah would respond by firing long-range missiles at Israel, which would likely lead to even further escalation.

The Israeli security cabinet after a three-hour meeting on Sunday authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gallant to decide on the scope and the timing of the Israeli response, the Prime Minister's Office said.

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