President Joe Biden issued a stern directive to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to abandon any preparations for an imminent invasion of southern Lebanon. This appeal is issued mere days following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, which has served to escalate tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, the militant organization that is supported by Iran and operates in Lebanon.
Biden responded, “I am more informed than you may realize, and I am at ease with their decision to cease operations in Lebanon,” when questioned about Israel’s reported plans to conduct a restricted ground operation. He subsequently issued a demand for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
The ongoing conflict was significantly escalated by the assassination of Nasrallah, who had served as the leader of Hezbollah for over thirty years. Following a series of covert Israeli operations that targeted Hezbollah commanders, Israel’s airstrike that killed Nasrallah leveled a residential area in Lebanon’s capital.
Biden’s relationship with Netanyahu has been multifaceted, as the U.S. president has positioned himself as a longstanding supporter of Israel while also becoming more critical of the civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. Biden had previously suspended the delivery of specific military assistance to Israel in response to the increasing number of fatalities in Gaza.
There are apprehensions that Israel may continue with its invasion plans, despite Biden’s appeal for restraint, due to Hezbollah’s potential for retaliatory rocket fire in response to Nasrallah’s death. In 2019, Turkey invaded Kurdish-held regions in Syria, despite a direct appeal from then-President Donald Trump. This would not be the first time a U.S. ally in the region dismissed such warnings.