President Joe Biden stated on Thursday that the US is considering attacking Iran’s oil facilities in response for Tehran’s missile assault on Israel. Meanwhile, Israel’s armed forces continued to target Beirut with airstrikes as part of their campaign against the Lebanese militant organization Hizbollah.
Biden was questioned about whether he would back Israel hitting Iran’s oil facilities as the country considers its choices following the country’s fiercest enemy, Iran, launching its biggest-ever attack on Tuesday.
“We’re talking about that,” Biden said to the press.
His statements contributed to a spike in global oil prices, and escalating Middle East tensions have made traders fret about future supply interruptions.
“Today will not bring about any significant events,” stated Biden. The president declared on Wednesday that he would oppose any Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told CNN on Thursday that his nation would “soon” demonstrate its power to Tehran and has “a lot of options” for retribution.
According to a US official, Washington does not think Israel has chosen its course of action on Iran yet.
Israel ordered inhabitants of areas of the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiye, home to the Iran-backed organization Hizbollah, to evacuate their houses, and as a result, fresh attacks broke out in the area before midnight on Thursday, according to locals and security sources.
According to three Israeli authorities and Axios reporter Barak Ravid on X, the airstrikes were directed for an underground bunker believed to house Hizbollah official Hashem Safieddine, who is believed to be the heir to the late Hizbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah. He added that Safieddine’s future was uncertain.
The Israeli military remained silent.
Iran will pay for Tuesday’s missile attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged, while Washington warned it will cooperate with its longstanding ally to make sure Iran faces “severe consequences.”
Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, stated on Thursday in a speech in Doha that Tehran will be prepared to reply.
“Any type of military attack, terrorist act or crossing our red lines will be met with a decisive response by our armed forces,” stated the president.
As it continued its cross-border incursion, the Israeli military ordered the residents of more than 20 towns in south Lebanon to leave their homes on Thursday.
The most recent alerts raised the total number of southern communities that have received evacuation orders to 70, including Nabatieh, the provincial capital, indicating that another Israeli military assault may be imminent.
