The Biden administration has one goal in relation to supporting Israel, keep Hezbollah from entering the conflict.
Hamas has small rockets and inbred jihadi terrorists. Hezbollah has precision missiles built up over time, more money, sophisticated targeting systems and a more disciplined approach. Israel can enter Gaza and begin operations; it will not be easy at all, but it is possible. However, if Hezbollah launches from the North, the U.S. will need to intervene on behalf of Israel.
That is the reason we keep seeing these statements:
Hezbollah will not engage Israel without direct approval from Tehran, Iran. Currently Iran views the Biden administration as a useful ally.
From the perspective of Iran, they have an interesting decision. Keep the happy geopolitical leverage they have with the Biden administration or put the Biden administration into a corner by activating their Hezbollah terrorists.
I don’t think Iran will approve Hezbollah for two reasons. First, because they will want to maintain the Joe Biden team’s usefulness for them. Second, I doubt even Hezbollah realized how much success Hamas would have in the 10/7 attack.
INDEPENDENT – As the Israeli army mounted its response to the massacre of hundreds of civilians by Hamas this weekend, it sent tanks and troops not only to the scene of the atrocities, but to its northern border with Lebanon.
It was a recognition, borne from experience, that an all-out offensive against Gaza is unlikely to be contained there. To Israel’s north lies a much more formidable foe, and ally of Hamas, the Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah.
Recent skirmishes on the border have heightened the possibility that Hezbollah could enter the fray and widen the conflict beyond Israel’s borders. The group is significantly better equipped than Hamas, with an arsenal of tens of thousands of sophisticated rockets, according to Michael Knights, a fellow at the Washington Institute and expert on Iran-backed militias.
“Israel says the Hamas attack involved about 1,500 commandos entering Israel: Israel has assessed that Hezbollah has a 45,000-strong regular army,” he told The Independent. “Hamas fired about 3,300 missiles and drones so far: Hezbollah has around 150,000 munitions ready to fire.” (read more)
While the fighting has left Kfar Aza, fighting between Israel and Hamas can still be heard from its streets. The sound of artillery and rocket fire can also be heard in the background.
Israel has amassed tanks and forces near the Gaza border as a ground invasion is expected. Israel continues to launch major airstrikes on Gaza.