President Joe Biden was significantly delayed in holding a press conference to address the recent terror attacks in Israel, in which he confirmed that 14 Americans were among the casualties. He acknowledged that U.S. citizens had been taken hostage but didn’t indicate a direct U.S. military involvement in any rescue efforts.
The president stated his support for Israel but did not mention Iran, which reports suggest may be behind the attacks. National security adviser Jake Sullivan noted that more than 20 Americans were still unaccounted for, which doesn’t necessarily mean they were taken as hostages.
The delay and Biden’s handling of the crisis have raised concerns and criticism regarding his foreign policy and perceived weakness in handling international matters.