President Joe Biden praised the Israeli strike that killed Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, calling it a “measure of justice” for his reign of terror. Nasrallah was a founder of the Hezbollah group and was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut. Biden noted that Nasrallah’s decision to join hands with Hamas after the massacre of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, led to the Israeli operation. The White House views Nasrallah’s death as a significant blow to Hezbollah, which has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans. The administration is trying to contain Israel’s conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah, both backed by Iran, to prevent it from escalating into a regional war.
The confirmation of Nasrallah’s death came as Biden’s national security team worked to secure a 21-day Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire at the U.N. General Assembly. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue operations against Hezbollah until Israeli citizens displaced by rocket attacks can return home. Biden expressed his desire for cease-fires in Gaza and between Israel and Hezbollah to bring stability to the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of complicity in Nasrallah’s killing, claiming the order came from New York. The State Department ordered the departure of U.S. diplomats’ families and nonessential employees from Beirut due to the volatile security situation in Lebanon’s capital following Nasrallah’s death.
The White House and Pentagon stated that Israel did not give the U.S. prior warning of the operation that killed Nasrallah and others. Biden emphasized the need for deals to be made to remove threats to Israel and bring stability to the Middle East. The State Department’s directive to U.S. diplomats in Lebanon is a precautionary measure in response to increased violence following Nasrallah’s killing. The department had previously advised American citizens to consider leaving Lebanon and reiterated its warning against travel to the country. The ordered departure of nonessential embassy staffers and family members is meant to ensure their safety amid the heightened security risks in Beirut and Lebanon.
The death of Nasrallah has raised concerns about the potential for further escalation in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, adding to the already volatile situation in the region. The operation that killed Nasrallah was seen as a significant event in the broader context of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East involving Hamas, Hezbollah, Israel, and Iran. The U.S. government’s efforts to broker cease-fires and stabilize the region face challenges amid accusations from Iran and others regarding American involvement in the Israeli strike. The State Department’s decision to order the departure of U.S. diplomats and their families from Beirut underscores the heightened security risks in Lebanon following Nasrallah’s death and the continued violence in the region.
President Biden’s statement on Nasrallah’s death reflects the administration’s stance on the Israeli operation and its broader efforts to mitigate the conflict between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The U.S. government’s engagement with international partners at the U.N. General Assembly and ongoing diplomatic initiatives aim to address the root causes of the conflicts in the Middle East and promote peace and stability in the region. As tensions escalate and violence continues, the U.S. remains committed to supporting diplomatic solutions and working towards a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crises. The ordered departure of U.S. diplomats from Lebanon is a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of American personnel amid the volatile security situation in Beirut and the broader region following Nasrallah’s death.
