U.S. President Joe Biden assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Thursday of the United States' "commitment" to Israel's security in the face of "any threats from Iran," according to the White House. The White House stated that during the call, which also included U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden emphasized "the importance of ongoing efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region." The statement clarified that "the president reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security against any threats from Iran, including from proxy terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis."
American Defensive Weapons Deployment
Biden and Netanyahu also discussed "efforts to support Israel's defense against threats, including those posed by ballistic missiles and drones." The statement explained that support for these efforts could involve "new deployments of American defensive weapons."
Earlier, Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan indicated that the U.S. is "engaged in intensive efforts" to prevent the escalation of conflict in the Middle East.
Calls for Retribution
This phone call comes amid calls for retaliation against Israel after accusations of its involvement in the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on Wednesday morning, and its claimed role in the killing of Fouad Shukur, a prominent military leader of Hezbollah, in an airstrike targeting southern Beirut.
Iranian officials discussed potential responses to Israel with representatives of Tehran-aligned groups, including Hezbollah and Hamas, during a meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, according to a source close to the Lebanese organization familiar with the talks.
Coordinated Response
Participants in the meeting discussed "the possibility that the response could occur simultaneously, meaning that Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis could strike Israeli targets at the same time, or that each party could respond individually but in a coordinated fashion," according to the source. A leader in the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" suggested that "Iran would lead the initial response with participation from factions from Iraq, Yemen, and Syria against military targets, to be followed by a second response from Hezbollah."
The assassination of Haniyeh and Shukur has raised concerns about the potential expansion of the ongoing confrontation between Hamas and Israel since October 7.
