Israel has requested the United States to take measures to deter Iran following the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and senior Iranian military official Abbas Nilforoushan, according to reports from Axios.
The request for U.S. support came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disregarded a U.S. appeal for a 21-day ceasefire with Hezbollah. Instead, Israel launched a devastating attack on the southern suburbs of Beirut, known as Dahiya, which killed Nasrallah, Nilforoushan, and other key figures. The strike was carried out without prior consultation with the U.S.
U.S. Response to Israel’s Actions
President Joe Biden and his administration emphasized they had no prior knowledge of the attack. However, they did not criticize it, reaffirming Israel’s “right to self-defense” in standard diplomatic terms. U.S. and Israeli officials have expressed concerns that the strike could push Iran to escalate tensions in the region.
An unnamed U.S. official stated, “Nasrallah was a bad guy, but it’s frustrating that the Israelis acted without consulting us and are now asking for our help in dealing with Iran’s potential response.” Another official added, “While Nasrallah had blood on his hands, the Biden administration is unsure how Israel’s aggressive strategy will improve the situation.”
Israeli Defense Requests U.S. Action
Following the attack, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant asked his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, to take “practical steps” and issue statements to deter Iran from retaliating against Israel. On Saturday, President Biden announced that he directed the U.S. military to “reinforce the defensive posture of American forces in the Middle East to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a wider regional war.”
The Pentagon also confirmed its commitment to preventing Iran and its proxies from exploiting the current situation or expanding the conflict. Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder added that the U.S. “remains positioned to protect U.S. forces and facilities in the region” and reaffirmed America’s dedication to defending Israel.
Rising Tensions Between Israel and Iran
This incident adds to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which could lead to a full-scale war, possibly drawing in Iran. In April, Iran directly attacked Israel for the first time in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike that killed Iranian officers in Syria.
While Hezbollah has urged Iran to strike Israel in recent weeks, especially following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last July, Iran has refrained from launching such attacks.
