US and Europe warn Lebanon’s Hezbollah to ease strikes on Israel and back off from wider Mideast war

By Ellen Knickmeyer and Aamer Madhani | Associated Press

WASHINGTON — U.S., European and Arab mediators are pressing to keep stepped-up cross-border attacks between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah militants from spiraling into a wider Middle East war that the world has feared for months.

Hopes are lagging for a cease-fire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza that would calm attacks by Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied militias. With the stalled talks in mind, American and European...