A Lebanese newspaper affiliated with the Iranian-backed Shi'ite militia Hezbollah reported on Saturday that American officials have warned Beirut that Israel is planning to initiate a war against its neighbor to the north. According to Al Akhbar, the Americans told the Lebanese “not to give Israel an excuse to start a war.” The report stated that US officials were informed by their Israeli counterparts that Jerusalem is interested in igniting a war, particularly in light of Saudi Arabia's strategic shift. “Pressure needs to be applied on Hezbollah not to make any mistake that would lead to a replay of the events of 2006,” the newspaper quoted American sources as saying.
