Here’s what to know about the situation

A focus on mutual deterrence had kept intermittent clashes along the Lebanon-Israel border from spiraling into a major war. That equation changed this past week.

The world is watching on as the simmering 11-month conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah continues to threaten to break out into an all out war in the region

The Biden administration is taking a more hands-off approach than usual during a week of dramatic escalation between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Israel is attempting a risky strategy, increasing the intensity of its attacks in an attempt to force Hezbollah to back down, while raising the chances of an aggressive response that devolves into a land war.

Even though the intensity of the hostilities has waxed and waned, there is no sign of a pause in the year-long war in Gaza. The pager blasts in Lebanon have further pushed the Middle East to the brink of a full-blown regional war.