For more than a year, Joe Biden and his senior advisers have managed to forestall an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon in fear of a larger war that could envelop the entire Middle East.
In the days after the 7 October attack, Biden phoned Netanyahu to talk him out of a massive retaliation against Hezbollah, which had begun firing guided rockets against Israeli positions after the Hamas raid.
In April of this year, Biden also told Netanyahu that the US would not support Israel in an offensive war against Iran, after Tehran launched dozens of loitering munitions, cruise missiles and drones toward Israel.
But yesterday US outlets reported that Netanyahu's administration had told White House officials that they were planning a limited ground incursion into Lebanon, essentially escalating a conflict with Hezbollah and its backer Iran to a level that Biden and his team have tried desperately to avoid.
This story is from the October 01, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 01, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Mulberry turns down £83m takeover bid by Mike Ashley's Frasers Group
The British handbag maker Mulberry has rejected an £83m takeover proposal from Mike Ashley's Frasers Group as too low, insisting that it will push on with a planned fundraising to support a business turnaround.
Fugee sues Lauryn Hill over failed reunion tour
Lauryn Hill is being sued by her Fugees co-member Pras Michél for fraud and breach of contract.
Botanists identify 33 'dark spots' for unknown plants
Botanists have identified 33 \"dark spots\" around the world where thousands of plant species are probably waiting to be discovered.
'I will never return' Fear and hunger hasten exodus from besieged city
Aisha had wanted to stay with her husband when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) laid siege to the Sudanese city of El Fasher this year. But as the shelling and bombing escalated, and supplies of essentials ran low, she was left with no choice.
'I chose freedom over unrealisable justice' in plea deal, says Assange
Julian Assange has said he chose freedom \"over unrealisable justice\" as he described his plea deal with US authorities and urged European lawmakers to act to protect freedom of expression in a climate with \"more impunity, more secrecy [and] more retaliation for telling the truth\".
'Nowhere is safe now' Shattered Asheville shows long reach of climate crisis
Nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains of western North Carolina and far from any coast, Asheville was touted as a haven from extreme weather. Now the historic city has been devastated and cut off by Hurricane Helene's catastrophic flood waters, in a stunning display of the climate crisis's unlimited reach in the United States.
Most soft plastic collected for recycling by shops is burned
Most soft plastic collected in supermarket recycling schemes and tracked after collection was burned, an investigation by environmental campaigners has revealed.
'Iceman' Hof film on hold after domestic abuse claims emerge
A biopic of the Dutch extreme athlete and wellness guru Wim Hof has been put on hold after allegations of domestic violence against him emerged over the weekend.
Gaynor Lord died by misadventure after entering Norwich river, coroner finds
A coroner has concluded that Gaynor Lord, a 55-year-old woman who went missing after leaving work in Norwich and whose body was recovered from a river a week later, died of misadventure after messaging a friend that she was \"going crazy\".
BBC's Gardner criticises airline after crawling to toilet on flight
The BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner, has described how he was forced to crawl on the floor of a plane in order to reach the toilet on a flight from Warsaw to London.
