Flustered Biden: "We Must Avoid Full-Scale Middle East War... Will Talk with Israel's Netanyahu"

As the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli military airstrike, raising concerns of an escalation in the Middle East, U.S. President Joe Biden said, "We really must avoid a full-scale war."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

On the 29th (local time), President Biden, while traveling from Delaware to the White House in Washington D.C., told reporters in response to the question, "Can a full-scale war be avoided in the Middle East?" that "We must do so." This statement came as the Israeli military intensified its airstrikes. President Biden said he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but did not specify the timing.

Earlier, the Biden administration had been negotiating to prevent escalation in the Middle East by proposing a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, but this was effectively abandoned. In particular, just two days after the Israeli military killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, they bombed the stronghold of Yemen's Houthi rebels, expanding the so-called "Axis of Resistance" front, further increasing fears of a full-scale war in the Middle East.

The Guardian daily assessed, "The sophisticated large-scale airstrike on Yemen was planned not only to target the Houthi rebels but also to send a message to Iran that the Israeli military has the will and capability to carry out airstrikes even at considerable distances." The New York Times (NYT) also noted, "Concerns about a full-scale Middle East war involving Iran have grown after the death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike on Friday," adding, "Both Hezbollah and the Houthis are proxies of Iran."

Iran strongly warned of retaliation after the assassination of Palestinian militant group Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran at the end of July and the bombing death of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah on the 27th, but it has not yet taken military action.

The U.S. Department of Defense has strengthened the readiness of U.S. forces to respond swiftly to attacks on U.S. troops and interests in the region by Iran and Iran-backed forces. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder said in a statement that "Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has resolved to prevent Iran and its proxies from exploiting the current situation or escalating the conflict," adding, "If they use this situation to target Americans and U.S. interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary measures."

John Kirby, White House National Security Council (NSC) National Security Communications Coordinator, also confirmed in an interview with ABC News on the same day that additional troops have been deployed to the region. In an interview with CNN, he said the U.S. government was not aware in advance of Israel's attempt to assassinate Nasrallah. Emphasizing a diplomatic solution, he pointed out that Israel engaging in a full-scale war with Hezbollah or Iran would not be able to safely return northern residents.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu said in a video released the previous day that no matter how much Hezbollah is destroyed, it can be rebuilt, so he ordered the assassination of Nasrallah.