Biden says Israel-Hezbollah conflict could turn into ‘all-out war’ as US floats cease-fire proposal

President Joe Biden said Wednesday that fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to become an “all-out war” as his top diplomat and other advisers were working behind the scenes pressing for a temporary cease-fire to calm the escalating conflict that has killed more than 600 people.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that the US administration was “intensely engaged with a number of partners to de-escalate tensions in Lebanon and to work to get a cease-fire agreement that would have so many benefits for all concerned.”

The Biden administration has been floating a proposal for a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah to calm the escalating conflict that has driven tens of thousands of people from their homes in northern Israel and southern Lebanon, US officials said Wednesday.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other US officials have spent the past three days at and on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting of world leaders in New York lobbying other countries to support the plan, which they hope could lead to longer-term stability along the border, according to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic conversations.

However, they said the specifics of the proposal were not yet complete. An Israeli official said Netanyahu has given the green light to pursue a possible deal, but only if it includes the return of Israeli civilians to their homes. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were discussing behind-the-scenes diplomacy.

Earlier Wednesday, Biden warned that “all-out war” between Israel and Hezbollah is still possible, but expressed hope that an off-ramp can be found to prevent further bloodshed. His comments came