Ben Caspit

Tensions are rising not only on Israel’s northern front along the border with Lebanon, but also on the border with Syria and further off, with Iran.

"Our aspiration is to strike Hezbollah with a force that it has not yet experienced, while remaining below the threshold of regional war or bringing Iran into direct war," a senior Israeli political source told Al-Monitor.

Nasrallah died like a lizard in its burrow. It is unclear if there is anything left to bury. This event, along with all the amazing operations, will resonate in the Middle East for many years.

The United States, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers are waiting to see which strike option Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will chose to retaliate against Iran as his defense minister heads to Washington.

Israeli leaders insist that a retaliatory strike against Iran is on its way, but reports say the attack could be a limited one and will focus on military targets.

The Israeli government might agree to refrain targeting Iranian oil sites in exchange for a security package offered by the Biden administration.

Israel denies having changed its plans after the leak of Pentagon documents allegedly describing is preparations for a strike bigger than the one against Iran in April.

Though the Israeli government's stated war goals include avoiding a regional war and an ongoing confrontation with Iran, the reelection of former President Donald Trump could change the calculus.

Biden administration envoys persist in trying to broker a deal to end Israel's escalation in Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his own ideas.

Both US presidential candidates push Israel to end its war against Hezbollah as quickly as possible, yet Prime Minister Netanyahu might have other considerations in mind.