By Kanishka Singh
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Joe Biden said on Thursday he did not believe there would be an “all-out war” in the Middle East, a region on edge amid Israeli attacks on Gaza and Lebanon and the escalation of the war. US ally’s tensions with Iran.
The president said such a war can be avoided, but more must be done to ensure it.
KEY QUOTES
When asked how confident he was that such a war could be averted, he paused and told reporters: “How confident are you that it won’t rain? Look, I don’t believe there will be an all-out war. we can avoid it.”
He added: “But there is still a lot to do, a lot to do.”
When asked whether he would send American troops to help Israel, he replied: “We have already helped Israel. We are going to protect Israel.”
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Tensions between Iran and Israel have been high as Israel has considered options for responding to Tehran’s ballistic missile attack on Tuesday, which Iran carried out in response to Israel’s military action in Lebanon.
CONTEXT
The latest bloodshed in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict was caused by the attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people, including about 250 as hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Israel’s subsequent attack on Hamas-ruled Gaza has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians, displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, caused a hunger crisis and led to accusations of genocide that Israel denies, according to the Gaza Health Ministry .
Israel’s recent military action in Lebanon left hundreds dead, thousands injured and a million displaced. Israel says it is targeting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
