Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is facing a tough situation in the Middle East as tensions rise between Israel and Gaza. Israel is preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, and the Biden administration is working to prevent the conflict from spreading further and potentially involving other players like Hezbollah, Iran, and the United States. It’s a tricky balancing act for Biden to keep all these groups in check without provoking them.
Biden faces dueling pressure to go tough on Iran but soft on war in Gaza https://t.co/xYGkvIRJYT
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) October 25, 2023
Conservative news writer and expert on defense and foreign policy, Justin Logan, is skeptical of Biden’s ability to deter anyone from escalating the situation. Logan states, “Biden is trying to prevent the escalation of this thing into a major regional war. I hope I’m wrong about this, but I think he has a limited ability to deter anybody.”
To send a warning message to Iran and Hezbollah, the US has deployed significant military forces to the region, including two aircraft carriers. So far, there hasn’t been any further escalation, but both the US and Israel remain on high alert. The White House has made it clear that it holds Iran accountable for what’s happening.
While the US engaged in a prisoner swap with Iran just weeks before the attacks, including unfreezing $6 billion in Iranian funds, the Biden administration has now decided not to release those funds. There are reports that US officials are urging Israel to delay a ground invasion of Gaza, possibly to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Despite calls for a ceasefire from some members of his own party and the United Nations Secretary-General, Joe Biden and his press team have remained firm in their support for Israel. Biden has shared personal stories about his trips to Israel and his close relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to Biden, there will be no ceasefire until Hamas releases all of its hostages.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken is issuing direct warnings to Iran, urging them not to escalate the situation further. However, Middle East scholar Ray Takeyh warns that the US’s involvement in the conflict, including the deployment of aircraft carriers, may force them to take action if the situation escalates. Takeyh argues that the US should be prepared to enforce any red lines it sets.
President Biden is in a difficult position as he tries to prevent the Middle East conflict from escalating further. His administration is working to keep various groups in check while also supporting Israel. However, there are doubts about whether Biden’s efforts will be successful, and there is concern that the US may be drawn further into the conflict if it does escalate.
