Washington: President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday were holding their first call in seven weeks, a conversation that comes as Israel expands its ground incursion into Lebanon and considers how to respond to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack.
Netanyahu’s office also confirmed that the prime minister had recently spoken with former President Donald Trump .
Trump Congratulates Netanyahu on Israel’s Operations Against Hezbollah
Trump, a Republican who is in the midst of a close White House race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, called Netanyahu last week and “congratulated him on the intense and determined operations that Israel carried out against Hezbollah,” according to Netanyahu’s office.
A Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., joined that call.
Biden Hesitant to Support Retaliation for Iran’s Missile Attack
Israel has been discussing how to respond to the Iranian missile barrage from Oct. 1, which the United States helped to fend off. Biden last week said he would not support a retaliatory Israeli strike on sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program.
Options for Israeli Retaliation on the Table
Israel’s other choices range from a largely symbolic strike — similar to how Israel responded after Iran launched missiles and attack drones in April — to hitting oil facilities and other infrastructure.
Escalating Conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon
Since the leaders’ last call, Israel has carried out a brazen sabotage and assassination campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, where the militant group has continued to fire missiles, rockets and drones at Israel.
Israel is now undertaking what it has described as limited ground operations across its northern border with Lebanon to dig out Hezbollah. Airstrikes killed the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and decimated its leadership.
Civilian Casualties from Sabotage & Explosions in Lebanon
Last month, thousands of explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated, killing dozens of people and maiming thousands, including many civilians. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack.
U.S. Military Presence & Increased Communication with Israel
The U.S. has maintained a stepped-up troop presence in the region, to defend Israel and American interests in the Middle East. Washington has grown increasingly vocal with Israeli officials about the need to be kept in the loop on their decision-making to ensure the protection of U.S. forces.
Israel’s defense minister, Yoav Gallant, had been scheduled to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, but the Israelis postponed the visit, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.
The Biden-Netanyahu took place one day after disclosures from journalist Bob Woodward’s new book, “War” that Biden has privately made his frustration and distrust of the Israeli leader known.
The president privately unleashed a profanity-laden tirade, calling him a “son of a bitch” and a “bad f——— guy,” according to the book.
Biden said he felt, in Woodward’s accounting, that Netanyahu “had been lying to him regularly.” Netanyahu “continued to say he was going to kill every last member of Hamas.” Woodward wrote, “Biden had told him that was impossible, threatening both privately and publicly to withhold offensive U.S. weapons shipment.” The White House declined to comment.
(With agencies inputs)
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