Biden says there is ‘possibility’ to end attacks between Iran and Israel | Joe Biden news

US President Joe Biden has expressed optimism about avoiding an all-out war between Israel and Iran, but sounded less confident about the prospects for an early ceasefire in Gaza.

Biden spoke to reporters in Berlin on Friday, where he met the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and assessed efforts to end the multi-arena conflict in the Middle East.

“I think there is a chance – and my colleagues agree – that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. In other words, it stops the back and forth,” Biden said.

Biden’s latest comments signal a possible shift in the US position. Last week, the State Department suggested it is no longer seeking a ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel, saying the Lebanese group is “taking a back seat” after the assassination of several of its leaders.

It is widely believed that Israel is preparing an attack on Iran in response to Tehran’s attack on Israeli military targets on October 1.

Iran fired a barrage of rockets at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and the killings of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and an Iranian general in Beirut.

In an earlier round of attacks, Iran fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel earlier this year in response to the bombing of an Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing seven people.

Asked Friday whether he understands how and when Israel will respond, Biden said: “Yes and yes.” Asked for further details, he added: “No and no.”

Political risks for Biden

The US president had previously suggested that Washington opposes an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear or oil facilities.

A military strike on Iran’s oil sector could send global prices soaring and prove costly for American consumers, hurting the election chances of Democratic presidential candidate Biden’s current vice president, Kamala Harris.

Iran has vowed to respond strongly to any Israeli attack.

It is unclear how the US and its European allies plan to prevent a spiraling escalation of direct violence between Iran and Israel.

A ceasefire in Gaza?

Biden has repeatedly vowed to continue arming Israel regardless of his policies, including ongoing concerns about well-documented atrocities in Gaza.

On Friday, the US president made it clear that a ceasefire in Gaza is not imminent following the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a firefight with Israeli forces earlier this week.

“We think there is an opportunity to work towards a ceasefire in Lebanon,” he said. “And it will be more difficult in Gaza, but we agree that there has to be an outcome – what happens the day after?”

On Thursday, Biden had called Sinwar’s killing an “opportunity” for a solution to the war in Gaza.

The US president also made a phone call to Netanyahu to “congratulate” him on Sinwar’s death, the White House said.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza has killed more than 42,500 Palestinians and left large parts of the territory in ruins, forcing almost the entire population to flee.

Israel also faces accusations of carrying out an ethnic cleansing campaign in northern Gaza, where it has ordered people to leave and halted all humanitarian aid to the area.

The US provides Israel with at least $3.8 billion in military aid each year, and Biden has approved another $14 billion in aid since the Gaza war began in early October 2023.

Escalation in Lebanon?

While Washington has warned against expanding the conflict, it has expressed support for Israel’s brutal bombing campaign and ground offensive in Lebanon.

Despite the loss of many members of the upper military and political echelon, including leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah has managed to inflict heavy casualties this month – it says in the hundreds – on the invading Israeli forces in southern Lebanon.

The group has also maintained a steady rocket fire into Israel, reaching deep into the Tel Aviv suburbs.

On Thursday, Hezbollah announced it was moving to a new “escalatory phase” in the confrontation with Israel, which the group said would reveal itself in the coming days.