President Joe Biden firmly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to abandon any imminent plans to invade southern Lebanon in response to the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. During a White House press conference, Biden expressed his opposition to Israel’s reported military action, stressing the need for a cease-fire.
A journalist asked Biden if he was aware of Israel’s potential operation into Lebanon, to which the president responded, “I’m more aware than you might know, and I’m comfortable with them stopping.” He emphasised, “We should have a cease-fire now.”
Nasrallah’s death, caused by an Israeli airstrike, has heightened tensions in the region. Israel is reportedly preparing to invade Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from launching retaliatory rocket attacks across the border.
The strike that killed Nasrallah flattened a residential area in Beirut, marking the culmination of a series of Israeli operations aimed at weakening the Iran-backed Shiite militant group.
Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu has been strained despite his long-standing support for Israel. Though Biden declared himself a “Zionist” last year, he has also been critical of Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing Gaza conflict, particularly concerning civilian casualties. In an act of disapproval, Biden paused the delivery of heavy bombs to Israel.
If Israel proceeds with its plans to attack Lebanon, it would mirror past instances where U.S. allies in the region disregarded American demands, such as Turkey’s 2019 invasion of Kurdish-held Syria under President Erdoğan, despite President Trump’s warnings.
