U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday described Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah as “a measure of justice” for his numerous victims, reaffirming Washington’s full support for Israel’s right to self-defense against Iran-backed groups. In a White House statement, Biden directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to bolster U.S. military defenses in the Middle East to deter aggression and mitigate the risk of a wider conflict. Despite his support for Israel, Biden emphasized the U.S. aim to de-escalate tensions in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic channels.
On Thursday, Israel defied global calls for a ceasefire with Hezbollah, continuing airstrikes that have claimed hundreds of lives in Lebanon and heightened fears of a regional war. When asked by reporters in Delaware whether an Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon was inevitable, Biden replied, “It’s time for a ceasefire.”
In his statement, Biden expressed strong backing for Israel’s strike on Nasrallah, which took place while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was attending the United Nations General Assembly. Biden, alongside other leaders, was attempting to broker a ceasefire at the time. He stated, “Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans during his four-decade-long reign of terror. His death in the Israeli airstrike serves as a measure of justice for his victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.”
Biden also noted that Nasrallah supported Hamas after its attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left approximately 1,200 people dead and saw around 250 hostages taken by Hamas militants, according to Israeli figures.
Since the attack, Israel has devastated large areas of Gaza, displacing nearly all of its 2.3 million residents, causing widespread hunger and disease, and resulting in the deaths of over 41,000 people, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The Biden administration has been unsuccessfully advocating for an end to the Gaza conflict for months. More recently, efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah have also failed, following the explosion of hand-held radios and pagers used by Hezbollah, killing dozens and wounding nearly 3,000.
Biden’s statement reiterated that the U.S. supports Israel’s right to defend itself against threats from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Iranian-backed militant groups. He also highlighted the urgency of closing deals to eliminate threats against Israel and restore stability in the Middle East.
After a call with Vice President Kamala Harris and top national security officials, Biden told reporters that while the U.S. seeks diplomatic resolutions, it remains committed to supporting Israel. He stopped short of directly criticizing Israel’s actions.
Biden also addressed U.S. military responses to missile attacks from Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeting U.S. warships in the Red Sea, though he provided no additional details.
The escalation in Lebanon and Gaza has sparked concerns of a broader war, potentially involving Iran, Hezbollah’s primary supporter, and the U.S. On Friday, before Hezbollah confirmed Nasrallah’s death, Biden stated the U.S. had no involvement or prior knowledge of Israel’s military action.
Over 600 people have been killed in Lebanon since Monday, but Biden did not comment on civilian casualties or Iran’s vows to avenge Nasrallah’s death.
Criticism of Biden’s silence on Lebanon’s civilian toll could strain relations between Democrats and Arab American and Muslim voters, noted Abbas Alawieh, co-founder of the Uncommitted National Movement. The group has mobilized over 750,000 voters to protest Biden’s handling of the Gaza conflict during the Democratic primaries. Harris, campaigning in California, echoed Biden’s support for Nasrallah’s killing and reaffirmed her commitment to Israel’s security.
