US sees way to avoid Israel-Hezbollah war

White House says it is 'confident' it can stop a broader war

Members of the Druze minority attend a memorial ceremony on Monday for the youths killed in the rocket strike on a football pitch in Majdal Shams. AP

Live updates: Follow the latest news on Israel-Gaza

The US believes a wider conflict between Israel and Hezbollah can be avoided, even though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a “severe” response to a strike attributed to Hezbollah that killed 12 youths in the occupied Golan Heights.

The Iran-backed Lebanese militant group has denied responsibility for Saturday’s attack, by far the deadliest in Israel's north since October 7, prompting fears of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, the first since 2006.

“Nobody wants a broader war and I’m confident that we’ll be able to avoid such an outcome,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said.

The attack brings renewed urgency for US officials, led by Washington envoy Amos Hochstein, who have worked for months to ensure Hezbollah and Israel do not start a war that would probably draw in Iran.

“We all heard about this ‘all-out war’ at multiple points over the last 10 months,” Mr Kirby said.

“Those predictions were exaggerated then. Quite frankly, we think they’re exaggerated now.”

Hanin Ghaddar, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy whose research focuses on Hezbollah and Shiite politics in the Levant, said she was not surprised that Hezbollah had denied responsibility for the strike, which hit a football pitch in Majdal Shams.

“They panicked when they realised that rocket had actually hit a football field and killed children, because I don't think that was their intention,” Ms Ghaddar said.

The US and Israel said Hezbollah was behind the rocket attack.

Tension between Israel and Hezbollah has been high since October 7, when Hezbollah ally Hamas attacked southern Israel.

Cross-border fire in Israel's north has become routine but Saturday's strike was the deadliest incident of its kind.

Since October 7, Israel has ordered more than 60,000 civilians living in towns along the northern border with Lebanon to evacuate. That order did not extend to Druze communities in the occupied Golan Heights.

Israel has occupied the Golan Heights, a mountainous and strategic stretch of land that was part of Syria, since 1967.

In 1981 it annexed the region, although many of the Druze who live there have refused to take Israeli citizenship.

The administration of US President Joe Biden chose not to reverse former president Donald Trump's decision to recognise Israel's sovereign control of the land, and has repeated that Israel has a right to defend its territory.

“We continue to believe a diplomatic resolution is both achievable and urgent, and we continue to be engaged in diplomatic talks, because our ultimate goal here is for civilians on both sides of the border to be able to safely return to their home,” State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.

Mr Kirby said several levels of US and Israeli officials had spoken since Saturday’s strike.

Ms Ghaddar said neither side wants to see the conflict evolve into something even more serious than it is.

“Neither side wants this kind of 'full war'. Hezbollah definitely doesn't want it.” she told The National.

While Israel may have more of an appetite for a conflict, she believes US pressure will keep them in check.

“At this point, I think the Biden administration is very clear that they said do not go for a full war,” she told The National.

“Before the [US] elections, I don't think the administration would like to be involved in another regional war.

"They've already had a lot of damage so far and they really want to focus on the election.”