The latest worrying escalation in the Israel-Hamas conflict comes with US president Joe Biden becoming increasingly concerned about Hezbollah getting directly involved.
Hezbollah has said it is standing with Hamas, triggering fears the Iranian-backed could make a big move in the ongoing conflict.
The US has reacted swiftly, sending two aircraft carriers – the USS Gerald Ford and the USS Dwight Eisenhower – to the region.
This comes with reports Biden has “privately” given his backing to Israel over plans to invade Gaza and “crush Hamas” when he visited the country earlier this week.
The US president and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent several hours locked in talks on Wednesday.
But Biden has also urged Israel to show “restraint” amid concerns the country has committed war crimes by imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip.
He said: “Don’t be consumed by that rage. After 9/11, while we sought justice and got justice, we made mistakes.”
