The American message is designed to get the Lebanese-based Shiite militia to back down and de-escalate the brewing crisis along the Israeli-Lebanese border, a person familiar with the discussions said.

I’m not quite sure that’s the right approach. It discourages brinkmanship, but also encourages them and Iran to go all-in since broader Israeli action is coming either way. Y’know, the way Iran didn’t with that rocket exchange, because the US seemed present and reasonable enough to negotiate with.