US President Joe Biden has urged Peace in the Middle East amidst the escalation of the Israel-Hamas-Hazbollah conflict. on Sunday told reporters while boarding Air Force One that the possibility of an all-out war ‘has to’ be avoided as tensions arise following the assassination of Hazbollah’s long-time leader, Hassan Nasrallah.
Biden said, “It has to be”, when questioned whether the war can be avoided in Middle-East. He indicated that he will be holding talks with Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, but did not specify when. He also said that efforts are being made with the US embassy in Israel to bring US personnel back to their country.
Israel delivered a major blow to the command structure of Lebanese militant group, Hazbollah, with a series of airstrikes that culminated in the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the group’s long-time leader.
The massive Israeli airstrike on Friday evening targeted the Beirut southern suburb of Haret Hreik, demolishing several multistory apartment buildings and killing Nasrallah along with several other high-ranking Hezbollah leaders. According to a report by Reuters, the airstrike was carried out by a 2,000-lb (900-kg) Mark 84 series bomb, a US made guided missile.
Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have emphasized the importance of diplomacy in preventing the conflict from escalating into a broader regional war. In a statement, Biden highlighted Nasrallah’s decision to join forces with Hamas and open a “northern front” against Israel as a pivotal moment.
Harris reiterated that diplomacy remains the best path forward to protect civilians and achieve lasting stability in the region.” President Biden and I do not want to see conflict in the Middle East escalate into a broader regional war,” Harris said in a statement Saturday.
The Biden administration has been actively engaged in diplomatic efforts, with Biden and Harris holding calls with national security aides to discuss the situation. US has sent troops to the Middle-East with directions to “assess and adjust U.S. force posture in the region” to enhance deterrence and “ensure force protection”.
Hazbollah’s leadership dismantled:
The death of Nasrallah is a significant blow to Hezbollah and its chief backer, Iran. It raises concerns about the future stability of the Islamic Republic and whether full-scale war will erupt in Lebanon. The White House continues to call for a 21-day temporary cease-fire, proposed by the U.S., France, and other countries during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, to prevent a wider regional conflict and allow displaced civilians to return home.
Hassan Nasrallah, who held the honorific title of sayyid, was a prominent figure in the entire Middle Eastern political landscape. Despite his immense power and influence, Nasrallah spent the last years of his life in hiding, fearing Israeli assassination attempts. He communicated with his followers primarily through satellite-linked speeches, maintaining his influence from the shadows.
Nasrallah was among Hezbollah’s founders when the party was formed by Iranian Revolutionary Guard members who came to Lebanon in the summer of 1982 to fight invading Israeli forces. Two days after its leader, 39-year-old Sayyed Abbas Musawi, was killed in an Israeli helicopter gunship raid in south Lebanon, Hezbollah chose Nasrallah as its secretary-general in February 1992.
Nasrallah was known for his fiery oratory, which earned him a reputation as an extremist in the U.S. and much of the West, as well as in some Gulf Arab countries. However, he was also seen as a pragmatist compared to the more radical militants who dominated Hezbollah after its founding in 1982 during Lebanon’s civil war.
Nasrallah played a crucial role in several significant events. He was instrumental in leading the war of attrition that resulted in the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon after an 18-year occupation in 2000.
Under his leadership, Hezbollah also fought Israel to a stalemate during the 34-day war in 2006.
Another notable instance was Hazbollah’s involvement in the Syria’s civil war which erupted in 2011. Hezbollah fighters sided with Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces which led to a dip in their popularity as the Arab world ostracized Assad.
However, Hezbollah’s popularity surged again when it came to the defense of Hamas, opening a front with Israeli forces along the Israel-Lebanese border shortly after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Nasrallah’s eldest son, Hadi, was also a casualty of the conflict, killed in 1997 while fighting against Israeli forces.
Israel adamant on escalation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a defiant speech at the United Nations, vowing to continue operations against Hezbollah until displaced Israeli citizens can return home.
“We face savage enemies who seek our annihilation, and we must defend ourselves against these savage murderers, [who] seek not only to destroy us but also destroy our common civilization and return all of us to a dark age of tyranny and terror.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The airstrike that killed Nasrallah was carried out shortly after his speech, and the White House and Pentagon were quick to state that Israel did not provide any forewarning of the operation.
The U.S. has a long history of mediation in peace talks for Middle East conflicts, including the 1978 Camp David Accords brokered by then US President Jimmy Carter that brought peace between Israel and Egypt, and the Israel-Jordan peace treaty of 1994. However, the US’s ability to influence events in the region has reportedly waned over the years, with other major nations largely remaining onlookers.
The Broader Implications
The death of Nasrallah and the ongoing conflict highlight the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics. Regional powers like Iran, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have their own reasons for avoiding a full-scale war while remaining cautious of Israel’s strength. Meanwhile, countries like Qatar have funded groups like Hamas, complicating the situation further.
Experts suggest that there is little incentive for leaders like Netanyahu and Hamas’s Yahya Sinwar to de-escalate, as both face no significant consequences for pursuing a destructive course. The means to pressure Hamas, Hezbollah, and Israel simultaneously do not exist thanks to the US’ waning influence in the Middle East, making effective diplomacy challenging.
The death of Hassan Nasrallah marks a pivotal moment in the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, further threatening any hopes of peace in the Middle East. The future remains uncertain as world leaders continue to call for diplomacy and a temporary cease-fire.
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Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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