US struggles to rein in Israel's aggression, but may now have incentive to do more

As Israel's Gaza war widens to Lebanon and Iran, why is the US not doing more to contain its strongest ally in the Middle East?

- Bhagyashree Garekar

The US has been sounding almost daily warnings about the dangers of escalation, but has not put its foot down.

With a lame-duck president in power and a month to go to the Nov 5 election, is Washington unable to exert diplomatic pressure? Or does it suit the superpower to do nothing?

This is a question that the US has struggled to answer as Israel's year-long invasion of Gaza turned bloodier as it wore on, claiming more than 40,000 lives.

The question looms even larger now, with a sharp possibility of an all-out war between Israel and Iran, two of the region's largest military powers.

The region is on edge, with Israel expected to strike Iran's oil infrastructure, military facilities and even its nuclear production sites in response to Iran's largest ballistic-missile attack against Israeli targets in its history on Oct 1.

Tehran's attacks were in retaliation for Israel's deadly campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-sponsored terrorist group in Lebanon, especially the Sept 27 air raid on Beirut that killed its chief Hassan Nasrallah.

The spiralling tit-for-tat carries the risk that the US – which has deployed carrier strike groups and fighter jets to the region – may also become directly involved.

Several US foreign policy experts suggest that the US does not have much leeway in the hair-trigger scenario.

The regional dynamics are intense and the US has only limited influence, said Professor Daniel Byman from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.

Added Mr Gerald Feierstein, director of the Arabian Peninsula Affairs Programme at Washington's Middle East Institute: "The US can facilitate de-escalation if the parties want to de-escalate.

"The big issue is: Is Israel looking for de-escalation or escalation?"

HOW FAR WILL THE U.S. GO TO HELP ISRAEL?

Is Israel bucking US pressure to de-escalate, or is Washington being too soft?