President Joe Biden had to cut short his weekend stay at his Delaware beach house to meet with his national security team at the White House and monitor the situation in the Middle East as Iran launched an attack against Israel. This comes after tensions escalated due to a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consular building in Syria, killing 12 people, including two senior Iranian generals. Iran had promised to retaliate against Israel, with U.S. and Israeli officials bracing for an attack that could potentially lead to a wider regional war.
Biden returned to Washington from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, on Saturday afternoon after Israeli officials confirmed the detection of drones being launched toward their territory from Iran. He was scheduled to convene a meeting with the National Security Council to discuss the events and plan the U.S. response. The Pentagon reported that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had assured his Israeli counterpart of full U.S. support against any attacks by Iran and its proxies. National security adviser Jake Sullivan also reiterated Washington’s commitment to Israel’s security.
During a press conference on Friday, President Biden expressed the United States’ commitment to defending Israel and stated that Iran would not succeed in its actions. He declined to provide specifics on what would trigger a direct U.S. military response, but hinted that an Iranian attack on Israel could be imminent. The U.S. and its allies have been sending warnings to Tehran to prevent further escalation of the conflict, which has seen near-daily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.
Amidst the ongoing conflict, there have been more than 150 attacks by Iran-backed militias on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. One such attack in January resulted in the death of three U.S. service members in Jordan, leading to a retaliatory air assault by the U.S. hitting multiple targets in Iraq and Syria. Additionally, Iranian commandos seized an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting condemnation from the U.S. National Security Council and calls for the immediate release of the vessel and crew.
The U.S. continues to work with its partners to hold Iran accountable for its actions, including the seizure of the ship. The situation in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has also witnessed a rise in violence following Hamas’ attack on Israel. As tensions remain high in the region, President Biden and his national security team are closely monitoring developments and coordinating with allies to ensure the safety and security of Israel and stability in the Middle East. The U.S. remains committed to supporting Israel in the face of threats and working towards de-escalation to prevent further violence in the region.
