US pressures Israel to avoid striking Beirut to prevent escalation with Hezbollah

White House confirms Israel's right to respond, gives 'ironclad support for Israel's security'

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The United States is leading a diplomatic effort to dissuade Israel from striking Beirut or major infrastructure in Lebanon in retaliation for Hezbollah's rocket attack on the Golan Heights, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday.

The report, citing Lebanese and Iranian officials, as well as Middle Eastern and European diplomats, indicated that Washington is trying to prevent a full-scale war between Hezbollah and Israel. Tensions have escalated after the terror group launched a rocket attack that killed 12 Israeli Druze children and youth on a soccer field in Majdal Shams.

While Hezbollah has officially denied responsibility for the deadly rocket attack, related social media accounts initially posted messages claiming the organization had targeted an IDF position near Majdal Shams. The group and its related social media accounts only began denying Hezbollah's involvement after news of the rocket striking a field full of children started to leak out.

According to Reuter's sources, the United States is hoping to convince Israel not to strike the densely populated capital city of Beirut, certain infrastructure, like the airport, or certain suburbs known to house Hezbollah supporters.

The agency reported that Lebanon's Deputy Parliament speaker, Elias Bou Saab, said that by avoiding such targets, Israel could avoid a major escalation.

"If they avoid civilians and they avoid Beirut and its suburbs, then their attack could be well calculated," Saab reportedly said. He also claimed to have been in direct contact with U.S. President Joe Biden’s Middle East envoy, Amos Hochstein.

Hochstein has traveled to the region for crucial diplomacy several times since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israeli communities near the Gaza border.

On Sunday, many in Israel were shocked after a report in the BBC indicated that Hochstein may have given the Lebanese government prior warning about Israeli strikes.

Last week, the former head of Lebanon's General Security Service, Maj.-Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, told BBC News that Hochstein had leaked information about Israel's preparations for attacks on Lebanon.

"As soon as he obtained information about any activity that was supposed to be carried out on Lebanese soil, he would warn us and say that the Israelis are ready to respond," Ibrahim reportedly told the BBC.

The U.S. National Security Council refuted the remarks by Ibrahim, claiming the article had misinterpreted his statements. The council said that Hochstein warned Lebanon about the consequences of allowing attacks from Lebanese soil, warning that Israel would respond.

Hezbollah has been launching rockets toward Israel’s northern border communities since Oct. 8, even before the start of the IDF's military ground campaign in the Gaza Strip. While Hezbollah claims that it is only attacking in support of the “resistance movement,” it has often targeted residential communities, such as Kiryat Shmona.

As of Oct. 8, Hezbollah attacks have been responsible for the deaths of at least 24 Israeli civilians, as well as 18 IDF soldiers and reservists. Hezbollah has announced that 383 or its operatives have been killed in Israeli strikes.

In a press conference on Monday, U.S> National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby reiterated White House support for Israel and its desire to prevent a larger escalation.

“Our support for Israel’s security remains ironclad and it’s unwavering against all Iran-backed threats, including those from Hezbollah,” Kirby said. “No nation can be expected to tolerate the kind of severe threats that Israel is facing. At the same time, we believe that there is still time and space for a diplomatic solution.”

Israel has not responded to Saturday's deadly Hezbollah rocket attack on Majdal Shams, however, at the time of publication, the terror group had launched several rockets and drones toward Israel’s northern border communities.