Report: Gallant concedes to US officials—war on Lebanon too costly

Western diplomatic sources have observed that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant doesn’t seem inclined towards an all-out war with Lebanon, despite his public threats. These threats appear to be primarily for domestic consumption. During his recent Washington visit, Gallant acknowledged that while the situation on the northern front is intolerable and Israel’s goals may be legitimate, achieving them could provoke a regional conflict and cause strategic damage to Israel. Gallant stated that Israel is preparing for all scenarios but prefers to avoid war. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other officials have urged for a diplomatic resolution, warning that another conflict with Hezbollah would have dire consequences for the Middle East. They hope that a ceasefire in Gaza might reduce tensions on the Lebanese border.