Killing of senior Hamas leader in Lebanon stokes fears of Gaza war spreading beyond enclave

“An Israel war with Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, risks drawing the United States into another war in the Middle East. That is a prospect we should strive to avoid. Israel should defend itself without direct U.S. participation,” Friedman said. “Israel has a right to target Hamas members abroad, and the United States has a right to defend its forces in the region,” Friedman continued. “Yet the flareups that threaten wider war for the United States confront us with the question of what U.S. interest is served by going to war for Israel, effectively on behalf of its war in Gaza. We might even ask if the prospect of U.S. support against Hezbollah encourages Israeli belligerence,” Friedman said. “Hence the United States should be clear that support for Israel will not include a shooting war on its behalf,” he added.

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