U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly concerned that Hezbollah could launch an attack in the United States amid tensions caused by the terrorist group's attack on Israel.
The Lebanese group is likely to target U.S. military and diplomatic personnel in the Middle East first, but could also look to the U.S. mainland, according to four unidentified intelligence officials. told Politico.
“Hezbollah will be able to use the capabilities they have to detain people.” [in] It’s a place to do something,” one of the officials warned.
“That's something to be concerned about.”
The four officials did not provide details on what type of attack they feared. But they warned that Hezbollah has a broader international network than ISIS or al-Qaeda.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken also warned on Sunday that this is a “moment of serious tension in the region.”
“This is a conflict that can easily metastasize,” he said of the threat of widespread conflict.
Officials say Iranian-funded terrorist groups' motivation to attack the United States has increased since the 2019 drone strike that killed former Iranian general Qassem Soleimani.
One of the officials said Israel could seek a strong response if it did not reduce the death toll in the Gaza Strip.
Hezbollah began firing rockets at Israel soon after Hamas launched an attack on the Jewish state on October 7, which Hezbollah said was aimed at easing Israeli military pressure on Gaza.
Initially, U.S. officials said the group was trying to avoid confrontation with the United States.
“Iran, Hezbollah, and their associated proxies are seeking to avoid actions that would open a coordinated second front with the United States or Israel, while still incurring costs in the midst of the current conflict. We are trying to coordinate our activities,” said National Press Director Christy Abizaid. Counterterrorism Center testifies at Congressional hearing in October.
“This is a fine line to walk, and given the current regional situation, their actions are fraught with the possibility of miscalculation.”
Since then, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have only worsened, with Israeli military officials warning that a “new war” could break out in the region.
Over the weekend, the terrorist group fired around 40 rockets into Israel and struck an air traffic control base on Mount Meron, forcing thousands of Israelis in the north to evacuate.
The attack caused some damage to the Israeli air base, but no one was killed.
After the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli Defense Forces reservists that he was ready to go to war with Hezbollah if necessary.
“Of course we would like this to happen without a huge campaign, but that won't stop us,” he said. According to the Times of Israel.
“We gave them an example of what is happening to our friends in the south. This is what happens here in the north,” Netanyahu said, referring to Israeli ground attacks on Hamas strongholds in Gaza. and spoke.
“We will make every effort to restore safety,” he added.
The country then killed Wissam Hassan al-Tawil, deputy commander of Hezbollah's Radwan unit, in an airstrike on Monday.
On Tuesday, Ali Hussein Barji, commander of Hezbollah's air force in southern Lebanon, was also killed in an explosion in the city of Khirbet Serm, where members of the Iran-backed terror group were attending al-Tawil's funeral. The Times of Israel reported.
Mr. Barzi was believed to be behind the drone attacks plaguing northern Israel.
In response to these attacks, the US State Department has increased security at its embassy in Lebanon as the Biden administration seeks to dislodge Hezbollah forces from Israel's northern border.
Biden senior adviser Amos Hochstein is scheduled to visit Beirut on Thursday after Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli officials told Hochstein there was little time to find a diplomatic solution that would prevent all-out war. is. According to Axios.
A White House National Security Council spokesperson told the newspaper that he plans to meet with Lebanese acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati and other Lebanese government and military officials to advance talks on restoring peace along the border. .
“The United States has made clear that it does not support the continued escalation of the conflict in Lebanon, and continues to exhaust all diplomatic options to ensure that Israeli and Lebanese civilians return to their homes and live safe and stable lives. ,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
