'Escalation' in Lebanon would risk Israeli security, US warns

The United States has warned against an "escalation" in Lebanon after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of an operation, saying conflict would only harm Israeli security.

"We don't want to see that escalation of the conflict which would just lead to further loss of life from both Israelis and the Lebanese people and would greatly harm Israel's overall security and stability in the region," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Wednesday.

Netanyahu, visiting the northern border area after eight months of war with Hamas that has devastated Gaza, warned Israel was "prepared for a very intense operation" along the border.

The trip comes after nearly daily fire with fighters in Lebanon from Hezbollah, like Hamas an ally of Iran's clerical state.

Miller, however, played down suggestions that war was imminent with Lebanon.

"The statements from the Israeli government saying that they are ready for military operation, if necessary, (are) different than saying that they have made a decision to conduct a military operation," Miller said.

"We are still in a place where we believe they prefer a diplomatic solution," he said.

Miller said the United States understood the "untenable situation for Israel" on its northern border.

"There are tens of thousands of Israeli citizens who cannot return to their homes in the north of Israel because it's not safe to do so because of the... constant Hezbollah shelling and drone attacks in the area," Miller said.