Biden: US Committed to Defend Israel Against ‘All Threats from Iran’

U.S. President Joe Biden has assured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States remains dedicated to ensuring Israel’s security “against all threats from Iran,” according to the White House, following the killing of a top Hamas leader in Tehran.

During the call, which included Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Biden also stressed the “ongoing efforts to reduce broader regional tensions,” the White House announced on Thursday.

This discussion occurred after Israel declared it had “eliminated Hezbollah military commander Fouad Shukur in Beirut.”

While Netanyahu’s administration has not commented on the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Hamas has attributed the act to Israel.

Biden “reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis,” according to the White House summary of his conversation with Netanyahu.

“The president discussed efforts to support Israel’s defense against threats, including ballistic missiles and drones, involving new U.S. military deployments,” the statement added.

Israel stated that Shukur’s assassination was in retaliation for deadly rocket attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon on the annexed Golan Heights the previous week.

Hezbollah has engaged in nearly daily exchanges of fire with Israel in southern Lebanon since the Gaza war commenced.

Biden expressed late Thursday his concern that the violence in the Middle East could escalate further, acknowledging that the killing of Haniyeh in Iran has “not helped” efforts to broker a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

Biden mentioned having a “very direct” conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier in the day, emphasizing the importance of acting on a potential cease-fire agreement immediately.

He made these remarks on the tarmac of an air base outside Washington after welcoming back three Americans who were released in a prisoner swap earlier in the day.