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Pre-Emptive Strike Against Hezbollah Thwarted by Biden

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – President Biden reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel a preemptive strike against Hezbollah, citing concerns about the possibility of a broader regional conflict, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Israeli officials possessed intelligence, which the U.S. considered unreliable, indicating that Hezbollah terrorists were preparing to infiltrate the border for a multi-pronged assault.

Israeli fighter jets were already airborne, awaiting instructions, when President Biden communicated with Prime Minister Netanyahu on October 11. During their conversation, Biden advised Netanyahu to stand down and carefully consider the potential consequences of proceeding with the operation, according to individuals familiar with the call told the WSJ.

The Israeli assault was ultimately canceled. The discussion between President Biden, other U.S. officials, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and his war cabinet, details of which have not been disclosed before, established a precedent for the White House’s efforts to prevent any escalation of the conflict that might involve the United States.

Upon receiving a briefing, Biden engaged in a call with Netanyahu and his war cabinet, emphasizing the importance of Israel standing down. Netanyahu remained unconvinced, but key members of his war cabinet, especially Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, argued that a larger-scale conflict was inevitable and that they needed to take preemptive action. The U.S. countered, maintaining that a more significant war could still be prevented.

During that period, northern Israel heightened its state of readiness. Israeli troops stationed along the northern border received urgent directives from their superiors, instructing them to ready themselves for potential confrontations with Hezbollah terrorists attempting to infiltrate the country from southern Lebanon, including paragliding and ground incursions. An alert was issued to all residents in northern Israel, urging them to seek immediate shelter in bomb shelters.

These warnings, which were ultimately determined to be false alarms, contributed to heightened concerns of another attack, according to both U.S. and Israeli officials.

It required approximately six hours of continuous discussions and negotiations before Israeli authorities eventually decided to stand down, as the U.S. maintained that the intelligence did not indicate an imminent Hezbollah assault.

According to statements from U.S. and former Israeli officials, Netanyahu and his war cabinet ultimately opted against proceeding with the significant pre-emptive strike.

The Biden Administration has been trying to negate any escalation of a wider regional war since the terrorist attack committed by Hamas on October 7.

Following the massacre by Hamas on October 7, the U.S. deployed two aircraft carrier strike groups to the Mediterranean Sea to enhance deterrence against the possibility of a more significant regional conflict.