Escalating relations between Israel and Hezbollah have raised fears of a wider regional conflict that could involve both the United States and Iran. President Joe Biden is closely following the developments, the White House said. reports Reuters.
“At his direction, high-ranking US officials are in constant communication with their Israeli counterparts. We will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense, and we will continue to work for regional stability,” National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said.
Hezbollah launched hundreds of rockets and drones at Israel on Sunday in response to the killing of a top commander in Beirut last month, the Iran-backed movement said. Shortly before that, Israeli planes struck targets in Lebanon, as the military estimated that Hezbollah was preparing to begin shelling.
Hezbollah said it fired more than 320 Katyusha rockets at Israel and hit 11 military targets. The shelling was said to have completed the “first phase” of the response to the killing of Fouad Shukr, a senior militant commander, in Beirut, but a full response would take “some time”.
The strikes came as negotiators met in Cairo to try to end the fighting in Gaza and return Israeli and foreign hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
