US President Joe Biden said that the assassination of Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli raid on the southern suburb of Beirut is “a measure that achieves justice for its many victims, including thousands of American, Israeli, and Lebanese civilians.”
Biden added in a statement, “The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other terrorist groups supported by Iran.”
He pointed out that he directed the Minister of Defense “to continue strengthening the defensive posture of the American military forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of the outbreak of a broader regional war.”
For her part, the Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate described Nasrallah as “a terrorist with American blood on his hands.”
“Today, Hezbollah’s victims received a measure of justice,” she said, adding, “I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself.”
An invitation to leave
Biden’s statement and Harris’ statements came as the State Department ordered the families of American diplomats in Lebanon to leave, while allowing the departure of some employees “due to the turbulent and unpredictable security situation in Beirut.”
The State Department also “urged” American citizens to leave Lebanon as long as commercial options are available.
In this context, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made two calls yesterday, Friday, with his Israeli counterpart about the events in Lebanon, where Austin assured his Israeli counterpart of Washington’s determination to prevent Iran and its partners from exploiting the situation or expanding the conflict.
Austin expressed his full support for Israel’s right to defend itself against what he described as Iranian-backed terrorist groups, stressing Washington’s commitment to protecting American forces and installations in the region and defending Israel.
Among the reactions in Washington as well, Republican leaders in the US House of Representatives said that “Nasrallah’s era has ended after it was based on bloodshed, oppression and terrorism.”
American statements and leaks
Axios quoted American officials as saying that Israel informed Austin, intelligence, and Central Command during the Nasrallah assassination, and that the Biden administration supports the Nasrallah assassination, but is frustrated by Israel’s lack of transparency.
These officials expressed concern that Friday’s strike could push Tehran to the brink of the abyss.
The website also quoted an American official as saying that Nasrallah’s hands are stained with blood, but the Biden administration does not know how Israel will address the situation strategically, noting that “it is frustrating that Israel carries out such operations without consulting us and then asks us to confront Iran.”
The website also quoted informed sources that Israel asked Washington to take steps to deter Iran from attacking it in response to the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah.
In turn, ABC quoted an American official that Israel is not responding to Biden’s repeated calls for a political solution, and that it is preparing for a limited ground attack in Lebanon.
This official stated that Hezbollah’s leadership and control had fallen into complete disarray after Nasrallah’s killing, and that there were deep suspicions and concerns among Hezbollah’s remaining leaders about the presence of spies among their ranks.
Nasrallah, who headed the party for more than three decades, was killed in an Israeli bombing that targeted the party’s headquarters in the southern suburb of Beirut yesterday evening, Friday.