During his visit to the US, Defense Minister Yoav Galant discussed with American officials the threat of a potential war with Hezbollah and the danger posed by Iran. General Brown expressed concern that the US would not be able to defend Israel in such a conflict, citing the difficulty of creating an effective defense against Hezbollah’s rockets and missiles. This contrasts with the US’s successful defense of Israel during Iran’s missile and drone attack in April.
Reports emerged last week indicating that the Biden administration had assured Israeli officials of full support in case of conflict with Hezbollah. However, concerns were raised about Israel’s air defense system potentially struggling to counter Hezbollah’s capabilities in a widespread conflict. The departure of the Dwight Eisenhower aircraft carrier from the Red Sea following its mission against the Houthis in Yemen left the area temporarily without an American carrier, with the Theodore Roosevelt carrier expected to arrive in the coming weeks.
Furthermore, reports surfaced indicating that pro-Iranian militia fighters from Syria and Iraq were preparing to join Hezbollah in a conflict against Israeli forces. This development echoes similar occurrences during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The participation of these fighters raised concerns about the potential for an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which could have wider implications on regional stability.
General Brown stressed the importance of considering these wider implications while discussing any operations in Lebanon and highlighted safety of US military personnel as top priority. Despite his concerns about creating an effective defense against Hezbollah’s rockets and missiles, he emphasized that no American bases in Middle East had been attacked since February.
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