A wave of Israeli strikes aimed at dismantling Hezbollah in Lebanon has triggered a cycle of violence and escalation that could result in regional war.

Israel’s decision to open a second front in a war on Iranian proxy groups comes after nearly a year of skirmishes and constant rocket attacks carried out by Hezbollah in support of Hamas, But as the conflict spreads to new fronts, American officials and experts fear Israel may be casting aside opportunities to end the conflict, dragging the United States into a direct war with Iran.

“My sense is that Iran does want to have a calibrated but significant response,” says Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, citing a large-scale Iranian cruise-missile and drone attack against Israel in April, in retaliation for the bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

“I don’t think we have the conditions for a cease-fire. The U.S. presence will likely need to remain what it is for the foreseeable future,” observes Murrett. “Shuttle diplomacy can’t move people if they have an interest in keeping the hostilities going.”

Read more in the Rolling Stone article, “‘Cease-Fire be Damned’: Israel Expands War into Lebanon.”