Israel- Hezbollah tensions | US will do everything possible to prevent escalation of war in Middle East: Biden

United States (US) President Joe Biden said on Sunday (Sep22) that Washington would doeverything possible to prevent an escalation of war in the Middle East, as hostilities flared between Israel and Iran-aligned Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Addressing a press conference at the White House, President Biden saidhe was worried about rising regional tensions. He said that the US administration was"going to do everythingwe can to keep a wider war from breaking out."

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"And we're still pushing hard," the president added.

Israel and Hezbollah threaten to escalate cross-border attacks

Biden's remarks came as both Israel and Hezbollah on Sunday threatened toescalate their cross-border attacks despite a chorus of international calls for both sides to step back from the brink of all-out war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after intense rocket fire from Lebanon that Israel has dealt "a series of blows onHezbollahthat it could have never imagined."

Hezbollahdeputy chief Naim Qassem, meanwhile,said the group was in a "new phase" in its battle against Israel.

Both released statementsafter attacks on northern Israel that caused damage in the Haifa area.

Israel has signalled a focus shift to Iran-backedHezbollahafter nearly a year of cross-border fire that began in October in whatHezbollahcalls support for Hamasmilitants fighting Israel, a report by the news agency AFP said.

An Israeli air strike in a densely populatedHezbollahstronghold in southern Beirut lastFriday killed the head ofHezbollah's elite Radwan Force, Ibrahim Aqil.

Lebanon's health ministry said the strike killed 45 people.

It came after a series of coordinated communications device blasts last Tuesday and Wednesday across Lebanon that killed 39 people and wounded almost 3,000, and which were blamed on Israel.

'Lebanon can become another Gaza'

Ahead of the annual General Assembly, UN Chief Antonio Guterres warned of the risk of Lebanon becoming "another Gaza" and said it was "clear that both sides are not interested in a ceasefire" in the Gaza war.

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Months of near-daily exchanges have killed hundreds in Lebanon, mostly fighters, and dozens in Israel and the annexed Golan, forcing tens of thousands on both sides from their homes.

(With inputs from agencies)