US warns that war between Israel and Hezbollah could spark regional war

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin met with his Israeli counterpart Yoav Galant at the Pentagon and said that the war between Israel and Hezbollah could provoke an even bigger war in the entire region.

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More than eight months of war in Gaza have increased tensions across the region, with Israeli forces and the Iranian-backed Lebanese paramilitary organisation Hezbollah exchanging fire almost daily.

"Another war between Israel and Hezbollah could easily become a regional war with dire consequences for the Middle East. Diplomacy is by far the best way to prevent further escalation," Austin said.

Galant responded that "we are working closely together to reach an agreement, but we also need to discuss preparedness for every possible scenario."

Last week, the Israeli army said plans to attack Lebanon had been "approved and confirmed" amid escalating cross-border clashes, but Washington is keen to lower the temperature and prevent another major war in the Middle East.

Israel's defence minister is on a visit to Washington to reaffirm the value of ties with its main ally, the United States. These moves come after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticised the United States for allegedly delaying the delivery of weapons.

The US government has insisted that only one shipment of bombs was delayed due to concerns about their use in populated areas, and that other arms shipments are proceeding as normal.

Source: Aljazeera