Posted on 09/28/24
| News Source: Arutz-7
US President Joe Biden called for a ceasefire in Lebanon on Saturday, when asked by reporters if an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon was inevitable.
"It's time for a ceasefire," Biden told reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, as quoted by Reuters.
Asked if the United States would respond to missile attacks on US warships in the Red Sea, Biden replied, "We're responding."
Earlier on Saturday, Biden issued a statement following the elimination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Lebanon.
"Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror," Biden said. "His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians."
"The strike that killed Nasrallah took place in the broader context of the conflict that began with Hamas’s massacre on October 7, 2023. Nasrallah, the next day, made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas and open what he called a ‘northern front’ against Israel," continued the President.
Biden stressed, "The United States fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other Iranian-supported terrorist groups. Just yesterday, I directed my Secretary of Defense to further enhance the defense posture of US military forces in the Middle East region to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war."
"Ultimately, our aim is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means. In Gaza, we have been pursuing a deal backed by the UN Security Council for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. In Lebanon, we have been negotiating a deal that would return people safely to their homes in Israel and southern Lebanon. It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability."