Washington CNN —The US and its allies are warning the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah against escalating the conflict in Israel as the US prepositions military assets to deter a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials and people briefed on the discussions tell CNN.
The US won’t officially engage with what has been designated a terrorist group, so Berri is one natural conduit.
But current and former senior officials don’t believe Hezbollah is eager to join the war, largely because the risks for the group would outweigh any potential rewards.
Analysts say Hezbollah support for Hamas has been symbolic so farHezbollah has congratulated Hamas on Saturday’s massive attack.
“There’s this possibility that if Israel gets stuck in Gaza … then, at that point, we could see Lebanese Hezbollah get tempted,” said Knights.
Persons:
Nabih Berri . Berri, Berri, “, ”, don’t, Defense Lloyd Austin, Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Jonathan Conricus, Mike Knights, Norm Roule, Frank McKenzie, ” McKenzie, Hassan, Nasrallah, They’re, Roule, –, McKenzie, Israel, Gaza …, Knights, ‘ we’re, ’
Organizations:
Washington CNN, CNN, US, Defense, White, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, Washington Institute, CIA, Knights, ” Knights
Locations:
Israel, Lebanese, Nabih Berri ., France, Western, Gaza, Don’t, Lebanon, Iran