At the beginning of the week, it seemed Israel was on the brink of a major escalation in the northern border. On Saturday, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah significantly increased rocket launches toward Israel used new means and military equipment, and managed to hurt Israelis in attacks that continued on Sunday and Monday.

The IDF responded with measured strikes on Hezbollah targets and thwarted terrorist infiltration attempts. It also attacked Hezbollah’s infrastructure and facilities in southern Lebanon in precise airstrikes.

The Israeli public feels mostly disappointed with what many perceive as Israel’s mild response to Hezbollah, particularly the fact that the IDF has not yet received orders to attack Lebanon and eliminate Hezbollah’s threats on the border.

At this stage, Israeli officials intend to focus on the fighting in Gaza and address the northern threat at a later time if necessary. However, this is only part of the picture. Behind the scenes, the U.S. is exerting heavy pressure on Israel not to fight on another front. Washington’s message is clear: don’t go to war with Hezbollah.

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