10/19/23
By Pronews
(translated from Greek)

The Americans fear that Israel cannot face two fronts at the same time

The US is particularly concerned about the possibility of the Shiite Hezbollah group attacking Israel if Tel Aviv launches a ground operation in Gaza, and is rushing a bill through the House of Representatives that would allow US forces to be sent to and engaged in a war in the US. East!

This means that the Americans fear that Israel cannot simultaneously deal with Hamas in Gaza, a second front against Hezbollah on its northern border.

If Hezbollah gets involved, it is considered certain that Iran will also get involved, whose size is disproportionately large for Israel to deal with alone.

This is also the reason why US President Joe Biden clearly chose Israel's side regarding the bombing of the Gaza hospital.

"Based on what I saw, it looks like it was done by the other team, not you," he said.

Republicans are drafting a military authorization that would allow President Joe Biden to strike Iranian-backed forces across the Middle East if the Israel-Hamas war escalates into a wider regional conflict.

The prospect of escalation looms closer as Israel continues airstrikes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip after Hamas massacres and kidnaps Israelis.

Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel as well.

"It's something we have to prepare for if Hezbollah gets involved ," said Mike McCaul, chairman of the House International Affairs Committee.

“The administration has no authority to strike any Iranian proxy.

They are not authorized under [US] law to attack.”

McCaul told CNN on Monday that he was working on an Authorization for the Use of Military Force, or AUMF, saying "I hope we never have to."

He told reporters that he favors an AUMF " with the full support of the United States Congress " that would target specific Iran-aligned groups without geographic restrictions.

Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, told Defense News that he thinks McCaul's bill is "premature . "

“The administration is working very hard now to ... give stern warnings to Iran and Hezbollah, which needs to be done to try to de-escalate the crisis. So I don't think we need to escalate it."

Iran has threatened to use its "proxies" across the region to open new fronts in the war if Israel goes ahead with plans for a ground invasion of Gaza, with Iranian Foreign Minister H. Abdollahian threatening "preemptive " actions against Israel.

The Biden administration has ordered two carrier strike groups, the USS Ford and the USS Eisenhower, to the eastern Mediterranean.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered about 2,000 Marines to prepare to deploy to the Middle East in support roles for Israel.

Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged fire on the Lebanese border since the first attacks by Hamas last week, and the US fears a wider escalation.

The US Constitution and the War Powers Act state that only Congress can authorize the president to use military force in a foreign war, except in cases of self-defense.

Previous administrations from both parties have ignored this, with unauthorized strikes in places like Syria and Libya, citing the president's authority as Commander-in-Chief.

Biden ordered retaliation against Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq in 2021 after they attacked US troops. (excerpts)

Source:
https://www.pronews.gr/amyna-asfaleia/enoples-sygkroyseis/ipa-espeysmena-pernoun-nomo-pou-tha-epitrepei-tin-emploki-amerikanikon-dynameon-kata-tis-xezmpolax-kai-tou-iran/