US President Joe Biden on Thursday reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security “against all threats from Iran,” during a phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the White House said, after the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
A statement released by the White House said: “Together with this commitment to Israel’s defence, the president stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to de-escalate broader tensions in the region.Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris also joined the call.”
“The president reaffirmed his commitment to Israel’s security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis,” the White House said in a readout.
“The president discussed efforts to support Israel’s defense against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments,” it added.
Biden also expressed his apprehension regarding the escalating tensions in the Middle East during a press conference on Thursday while he met freed American prisoners back from Russia.
Addressing the reporters, Biden said: “I’m very concerned about it,” adding that the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran had “not helped” the situation.
Biden mentioned that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to swiftly reach an agreement for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s government has not commented on the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, but the Palestinian militant group has blamed Israel, whereas Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Huthi rebels all receive backing from Iran.
Israel conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip began on October 7, during the Hamas attack, militants also seized 251 people, of which 111 are still held captive in Gaza, including 39 the military says are dead.
Since then, Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed 39,480 people, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, which does not provide details of civilian and militant deaths.
(With inputs from agencies)