With Israel's defense minister announcing a "new phase" of the war and an apparent Israeli attack setting off explosions in electronic devices in Lebanon, the specter of all-out combat between Israel and Hezbollah seems closer than ever before.

White House adviser Amos Hochstein met with top Israeli officials as he tried to de-escalate tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Israel has a new war goal, adding to mounting signs that the conflict could soon expand to the country's north as it warned the U.S. that “military action” would likely be the only way to address mounting hostilities with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.