On Sunday, the Axios news website quoted Israeli and American sources as saying that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant against military operations in Lebanon, noting that Austin asked Israel to avoid steps that might lead to an all-out war with Hezbollah.

Axios explained that Gallant informed his American counterpart that Israel's policy is not to open a second front in Lebanon, in addition to Gaza, and stressed that he does not believe this scenario will happen. The news site noted that Gallant informed his American counterpart that Hezbollah was escalating its attacks and that it was “playing with fire,” as he put it. Axios quoted an Israeli source as saying that the Biden administration is concerned about Gallant's public threats against Hezbollah and believes that these threats will only escalate tensions.

Yesterday, the Times of Israel newspaper quoted Gallant as saying that Hezbollah is dragging Lebanon into war, indicating that the Lebanese will be the ones who will pay the price. Gallant warned that Hezbollah "is close to committing a grave mistake that will end with Beirut residents fleeing their homes," he said. Gallant said that the Israeli Air Force is using less than a tenth of its capabilities in Gaza and that "our planes are directed towards the north."

For his part, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said that “the South Lebanon Front will remain a pressure front,” and said that the supportive Lebanese political and popular stance is a “supportive and grateful stance” that makes it effective and influential.