General Brown raised concerns about the US’s ability to defend Israel in a potential war against Hezbollah, citing the challenges of developing an effective defense against the group’s rockets and missiles. This contrasted with the US’s successful defense of Israel during Iran’s missile and drone attack in April.
During Defense Minister Yoav Galant’s visit to the US, he discussed with American officials the threat of a potential war with Hezbollah and the dangers posed by Iran. Brown emphasized the importance of considering the wider implications of any operations in Lebanon and how they could impact the region as a whole. The safety of US military personnel in the region was also highlighted as a top priority.
Last week, reports emerged that the Biden administration had assured Israeli officials of full support in case of conflict with Hezbollah. Concerns were raised about Israel’s air defense system potentially struggling to counter Hezbollah’s capabilities in a widespread conflict. The departure of Dwight Eisenhower aircraft carrier from Red Sea following its mission against Houthis in Yemen left temporarily without an American carrier, with Theodore Roosevelt carrier expected to arrive soon.
Furthermore, reports surfaced that pro-Iranian militia fighters from Syria and Iraq were preparing to join Hezbollah in case of conflict against Israeli forces, echoing similar occurrences during Second Lebanon War 2006. These developments added more complexity and danger to an already tense situation between Israel and Hezbollah.
