At the Middle East America Dialogue (MEAD) summit in Washington, DC, a senior U.S. official warned of potential "catastrophic and unforeseen consequences" if the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah escalates into a full-scale war. The official highlighted that tens of thousands could die if the current tensions develop further, emphasizing that a military solution to the conflict is far from straightforward.
The official expressed concern over the notion of a quick and decisive victory, stating, "There is no magic solution. The other side cannot be annihilated. At the end of the war, Israel may pay a heavy price and not achieve its goals. There is no war in lab conditions. It’s not a game."
The two-day MEAD conference, chaired by former senior U.S. officials including Dennis Ross and Elliot Abrams, as well as former American ambassadors to Israel Tom Nides and David Friedman, discussed the ongoing violence. The conference highlighted the challenges Israel faces with frequent attacks from Hezbollah-led forces, targeting both IDF military posts and Israeli communities near the border.
Former Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz noted the slow response to the Hezbollah threat, stating, “We are late on this.” The conference underscored the complex dynamics of the conflict and the potential severe impacts if the situation continues to escalate.
