On Saturday morning, Hezbollah in Lebanon confirmed that its leader, Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike the previous day. Subsequently, U.S. President Biden issued a statement saying that Nasrallah's death is a declaration of justice for those victimized under four decades of terror and a significant blow to Hezbollah.
However, the White House's reaction to Nasrallah's death revealed more complex emotions. The U.S. government stated that Israel did not inform them prior to the operation, causing dissatisfaction at the White House and the Pentagon. Vice President Harris also spoke cautiously, expressing that they do not wish for further escalation in the Middle East, thus maintaining the White House’s consistent policy stance to contain the spread of conflict in the region.
The Biden administration has recently been pushing for a 21-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah at the United Nations General Assembly. However, Israel's airstrike has undoubtedly thrown Biden's diplomatic efforts into disarray, turning the ceasefire plan into a mirage overnight. Insiders revealed that Biden was deeply disappointed with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s unilateral action, especially given Netanyahu’s previous attitude toward the U.S. during negotiations, which left Biden and Secretary of State Blinken feeling humiliated.
Over the past week, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah has escalated, resulting in at least 700 deaths and forcing around 90,000 Lebanese to flee their homes. Nasrallah's death might act as a trigger for a larger-scale war in the Middle East, further straining U.S.-Israel relations. The White House is concerned that Israel’s actions have further undermined the U.S.'s position in ceasefire negotiations, which is undoubtedly a negative signal for the Middle East situation.
Analysts warn that Nasrallah's death might provoke retaliatory actions from Iran. On Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei indicated that Nasrallah's blood would not be shed in vain, suggesting retaliatory measures. Meanwhile, Iranian President Pezeshkian accused the U.S. of conspiring with Israel, claiming the order for the terrorist attack came from New York. On the same day, Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a missile at Tel Aviv, Israel, in solidarity with Hezbollah, but the missile was successfully intercepted by the Israeli military.
Currently, the situation in the Middle East is rapidly deteriorating, and the Biden administration is facing immense diplomatic pressure.
