President Biden says essential to avoid all-out war in Middle East

Biden says he’ll speak with Israeli leader, vowing all-out war in the Middle East must be avoided

President Joe Biden stated on Sunday that avoiding an all-out war in the Middle East is essential, as Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon resulted in dozens of casualties. Speaking to reporters at Dover Air Force Base before boarding Air Force One to Washington, Biden emphasized the need to prevent further escalation in the region.

"It has to be," Biden said when asked about the possibility of avoiding a larger conflict. "We really have to avoid it."

His remarks follow a series of increasingly aggressive Israeli strikes, which targeted Hezbollah's command structure, including the killing of the group's leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The strikes are part of a wider effort by Israel to weaken Hezbollah's capacity to attack Israeli territory.

Over the past 11 months, Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket attacks on Israel, leading to retaliatory airstrikes. As the conflict intensifies, tens of thousands of civilians on both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have been forced to evacuate, creating a humanitarian crisis in the region.

While Biden did not confirm when he would speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president’s administration has been actively seeking a negotiated solution to the conflict. The goal is to allow displaced civilians to return home and prevent the outbreak of a wider regional war.

The escalation of violence comes amid growing fears of Iran’s influence through its proxy, Hezbollah, which has seen significant losses in recent Israeli operations. As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation remains precarious, with the risk of further escalation in the coming days.