Why America is looking increasingly powerless as Israel’s war expands
Israel’s anticipated ground offensive in Lebanon is set to highlight a new strategic dynamic emerging from a year of conflict — illustrating that the once-powerful United States is now unable to restrain its ally or sway other significant participants in a rapidly deteriorating regional crisis.
On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration indicated that it is on the verge of escalating its military actions against Hezbollah, despite ongoing appeals from Washington for moderation and familiar, yet ignored, requests for de-escalation.
The pattern of American helplessness coupled with Israeli defiance has become a recurring theme since the October 7 Hamas assaults on Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities, triggering a relentless Israeli bombardment of Gaza and a recent focus on neutralizing Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Netanyahu frequently takes action before consulting the US, even when his decisions jeopardize American diplomatic endeavors and heighten fears of the US becoming embroiled in a catastrophic regional war. For instance, the US was not notified ahead of time about the Israeli airstrike on Friday that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, despite the significant global repercussions that followed.
Biden, who has long taken pride in being one of the most pro-Israel politicians in US history, has been reluctant to deploy the leverage available to him, such as permanently halting military aid to Israel. Such a drastic move would carry substantial political ramifications as the election approaches and could lead to accusations of abandoning an ally engaged in a fight against terrorism.
A deep symbolic irony highlights the dual nature of the US stance in the conflict: American-made 2,000-pound bombs were likely employed in the attack on Nasrallah, posing a risk of igniting a regional conflict that would be detrimental to US interests and diplomatic objectives.
Washington’s concerns encompass the horrific civilian casualties and humanitarian crises unfolding in Gaza and Lebanon, a nation where the decline of centrist and left-wing parties has resulted in a lack of alternative leaders who could align ideologically and temperamentally with US presidents. The emergence of radical leaders such as Nasrallah and Hamas officials has also resulted in a lack of partners on the opposing side who are receptive to traditional US mediation efforts.
Many observers in Washington have long speculated that Netanyahu has a personal stake in perpetuating conflict as a means of redeeming his failure to prevent the October 7 attacks and postponing his legal troubles stemming from serious criminal charges.
America’s own toxic political landscape is also undermining its influence in the Middle East. Support for Israel was a steadfast principle uniting both Republicans and Democrats, but Netanyahu’s interventions in US politics, particularly concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, have alienated many Democrats. The party’s shift leftward has further tempered backing for Israel.
Former President Donald Trump encouraged and supported some of Netanyahu’s most radical policies, further politicizing the US-Israel relationship. Pro-Trump Republicans are pressuring him to push even further — partly to undermine Biden and his chosen successor, Harris.
