Israel-Hezbollah War Likely Within Weeks w/Out Israel-Hamas Ceasefire

Politico reportingthat, according to US officials, a "large-scale" confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah is likely to break out, "in the next several weeks" if Israel and Hamas fail to reach a cease-fire deal for Gaza.

• Politico notes that: "U.S. officials are trying to convince both sides to deescalate — a task that would be significantly easier with a cease-fire in place in Gaza. But that agreement is in tense negotiations and U.S. officials are not confident Israel and Hamas will agree to the deal on the table in the near future.
• "Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah have drafted battle plans and are in the process of trying to procure additional weapons, according to two senior U.S. officials briefed on the intelligence.
• The report notes: "The risk is higher now than at any other point in recent weeks, according to another senior U.S. official, who, like others in this story, was granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive intelligence."
• Within the last hour, Haaretz reports: "The Israeli army said 40 rockets were fired toward Safed in the latest barrage from Lebanon, and that approximately half of them were intercepted. The other half fell in open areas. There are currently no reports of casualties, but there was damage to property, and several fires have broken out."