The Biden administration is preparing for the possibility of evacuating hundreds of thousands of American citizens from the Middle East if the war in Gaza cannot be contained, the Washington Post reports.

The scenario for such an operation is being laid out as Israeli forces, aided by US equipment and military advisers, prepare for a dangerous ground offensive against Hamas.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, there is increased concern about Americans living in Israel and neighboring Lebanon as a discharge of this magnitude is considered the worst case scenario and other solutions are considered more likely.

However, the same sources state that “it would be irresponsible not to have a plan for everything.”

The administration, despite its strong public support for Israel, is deeply concerned by the prospect of escalation and in recent days has turned its attention in part to the complex logistics of moving large numbers of people abruptly.

There were approximately 600,000 American citizens in Israel and another 86,000 believed to be in Lebanon when Hamas attacked, according to State Department estimates.

The concern in Lebanon is mainly about Hezbollah, a political party and militant group that, along with its allies, currently controls the largest number of parliamentary seats. He entered parliament in 1992. He has long received training and weapons from Iran, raising concerns that he could attack Israel from the north, creating a two-front war that would split Israeli forces. Already, there have been skirmishes on their common border.