Hezbollah “Taken 20 Years Back” as Israel Intensifies Strikes: U.S. Officials Warn of Looming Regional War
U.S. officials are calling a crippling blow to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group in Lebanon. A high-ranking U.S. official told CNN on Tuesday that the attacks have likely set Hezbollah back by 20 years, following the elimination of several of the group’s top military leaders over the past two months.
Among the slain commanders was Fuad Shukr, Hezbollah’s so-called “Chief of Staff,” who was eliminated in a July strike in Dahieh, a Hezbollah stronghold. More recently, Ibrahim Aqil, Hezbollah’s head of operations, was killed along with senior commanders of the elite Radwan Force. On Monday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) narrowly missed Ali Karaki, Hezbollah’s commander on the southern front, with the group claiming he was moved to a safe location.
The heightened Israeli campaign has disrupted Hezbollah’s communications, a key operational advantage for the group. U.S. officials believe that Israel’s destruction of Hezbollah’s pagers and walkie-talkies has severely hampered their ability to coordinate, especially after leader Hassan Nasrallah ordered members to avoid using mobile phones.
But the deeper concern now is Iran’s potential involvement. According to CNN, U.S. intelligence suggests Tehran is watching closely, ready to intervene if Hezbollah appears on the brink of collapse. “We are the closest we’ve been to spiraling into a regional war,” a U.S. official warned, adding that Iran’s decision to step in could change the conflict’s trajectory.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, speaking in New York ahead of his U.N. General Assembly address, acknowledged the growing risk of a broader war. He cautioned that “the fire of events in Lebanon” could engulf the entire region. While Pezeshkian didn’t outright confirm whether Iran would directly aid Hezbollah, he underscored that the group cannot stand alone against a nation “armed to the teeth” with Western and U.S. support.
“Hezbollah cannot turn Lebanon into another Gaza at the hands of Israel,” Pezeshkian stressed, criticizing what he called the “criminal acts” committed by Israel and warning that a regional war could have dire consequences, not just for the Middle East but for global stability. He emphasized, “There is no winner in warfare, everyone loses.”
As tensions between Israel and Hezbollah intensify, President Biden’s administration is reportedly scrambling to prevent further escalation. According to The New York Times, Biden’s advisors are making last-ditch efforts to secure a cease-fire in Gaza while attempting to cool the northern front with Hezbollah. But the situation is growing increasingly precarious, with one U.S. official noting that diplomatic progress is slipping away amid relentless Israeli-Hezbollah clashes.
Biden’s team is also reportedly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a recent conversation between the two leaders ending in a heated argument, according to The New York Times. The frustrations stem from Netanyahu’s perceived inaction as the violence escalates, leaving the U.S. with fewer diplomatic options to stave off a full-scale regional conflict.
With Hezbollah reeling but still far from defeated, the region stands on the brink of a dangerous new chapter in its decades-long conflict. The question now is not whether the fighting will continue, but how much further it will spiral—and whether it will draw in Iran and the broader Middle East. As Pezeshkian grimly stated, “A regional war could be catastrophic for the future of the world.”
