Politico reports that the US secretly approved escalation in Lebanon
According to sources from Politico, the US has discreetly endorsed Israel's operations in Lebanon, even as it publicly calls for a ceasefire. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Washington has reportedly given Israel the green light to conduct military operations, despite publicly advocating for a ceasefire, according to insider sources cited by PMG.
Israel has been executing a week-long bombing campaign in Lebanon, targeting the majority of Hezbollah's leadership and describing its actions as a “limited incursion” into the neighboring country. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals, many of whom are civilians, and has displaced more than one million people.
Before the commencement of the bombing and invasion, thousands of people in Lebanon were affected by devices that detonated simultaneously, which Israeli intelligence is alleged to have planted in preparation for the assault on Hezbollah.
US President Joe Biden reiterated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Monday, stating to reporters at the White House: “I’m comfortable with them stopping.”
However, PMG reported that Israel had communicated its military strategy broadly to Washington in mid-September, receiving approval from senior US presidential advisers Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, as confirmed by two Israeli and four American officials.
The decision reportedly faced resistance from within the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community, with concerns that ongoing hostilities could escalate into a substantial conflict involving the US directly.
Violence along Israel’s northern border surged last October following the Jewish state's siege of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in retaliation for a deadly attack by Hamas. Hezbollah has expressed its support for the Palestinians and has indicated that it will halt cross-border rocket attacks only when a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. Israel aims to completely "eliminate" Hamas and has consistently dismissed public calls from Washington for a ceasefire.
According to PMG, there is a belief in Washington that the conflicts involving Hamas and Hezbollah can be somehow “decoupled.” US officials reportedly hope that increased tensions in Lebanon could help diminish Iran's regional influence, as Iran supports both militant groups. Nevertheless, they seem reluctant to back Israel's campaign publicly, fearing potential repercussions, which has led Washington to continue advocating for caution and deescalation.
“Both things can be true – the US can want diplomacy and support Israel’s larger goals against Hezbollah,” PMG quoted a senior US official as saying. “There’s clearly a line that the administration is toeing, it’s just not clear what that line is.”
The sources indicated that Israel has chosen a “limited” incursion into Lebanon at the urging of the US, rather than launching a full-scale ground offensive.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
Israel has been executing a week-long bombing campaign in Lebanon, targeting the majority of Hezbollah's leadership and describing its actions as a “limited incursion” into the neighboring country. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals, many of whom are civilians, and has displaced more than one million people.
Before the commencement of the bombing and invasion, thousands of people in Lebanon were affected by devices that detonated simultaneously, which Israeli intelligence is alleged to have planted in preparation for the assault on Hezbollah.
US President Joe Biden reiterated calls for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah on Monday, stating to reporters at the White House: “I’m comfortable with them stopping.”
However, PMG reported that Israel had communicated its military strategy broadly to Washington in mid-September, receiving approval from senior US presidential advisers Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk, as confirmed by two Israeli and four American officials.
The decision reportedly faced resistance from within the Pentagon, State Department, and intelligence community, with concerns that ongoing hostilities could escalate into a substantial conflict involving the US directly.
Violence along Israel’s northern border surged last October following the Jewish state's siege of the Palestinian enclave of Gaza in retaliation for a deadly attack by Hamas. Hezbollah has expressed its support for the Palestinians and has indicated that it will halt cross-border rocket attacks only when a ceasefire in Gaza is achieved. Israel aims to completely "eliminate" Hamas and has consistently dismissed public calls from Washington for a ceasefire.
According to PMG, there is a belief in Washington that the conflicts involving Hamas and Hezbollah can be somehow “decoupled.” US officials reportedly hope that increased tensions in Lebanon could help diminish Iran's regional influence, as Iran supports both militant groups. Nevertheless, they seem reluctant to back Israel's campaign publicly, fearing potential repercussions, which has led Washington to continue advocating for caution and deescalation.
“Both things can be true – the US can want diplomacy and support Israel’s larger goals against Hezbollah,” PMG quoted a senior US official as saying. “There’s clearly a line that the administration is toeing, it’s just not clear what that line is.”
The sources indicated that Israel has chosen a “limited” incursion into Lebanon at the urging of the US, rather than launching a full-scale ground offensive.
Allen M Lee for TROIB News
