Amid Rising Tensions in Middle East, Biden Reaffirms Commitment to Israel’s Security

Washington: Amid looming threat of a possible Iranian attack on Israel following Hamas top leader Ismail Haniyeh's assassination in Tehran, United States President Joe Biden on Thursday spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reaffirming his commitment to Israel's security against all threats from Iran, the White House said.

Vice President and Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris also joined the call to assure Netanyahu of support, news agency PTI reported.

“The president reaffirmed his commitment to Israel's security against all threats from Iran, including its proxy terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis,” said a readout of the call.

“The president discussed efforts to support Israel’s defence against threats, including against ballistic missiles and drones, to include new defensive US military deployments,” it said.

“Together with this commitment to Israel’s defence, the president stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to de-escalate broader tensions in the region. Vice President Harris also joined the call,” the White House said.

The killing of Iran-backed leader Haniyeh on a foreign soil is likely to escalate the tensions in the Middle East.

Ismail Haniyeh and one of his bodyguards were eliminated after their residence was targeted in Tehran, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had confirmed in a statement.

"With condolences to the heroic nation of Palestine and the Islamic nation and the combatants of the Resistance Front and the noble nation of Iran, this morning (Wednesday) the residence of Mr. Dr. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the political office of the Islamic Resistance of Hamas, was hit in Tehran, and following this incident, he and one of his bodyguards were martyred," the statement read.

Haniyeh Killed in Tehran

Ismail Haniyeh, one of the senior Hamas leaders, and his bodyguard were killed in Iran's Tehran. IRGC stated that the attack was carried out during the wee hours of Wednesday, adding that a probe into the killing was underway.

This came a day after the leader on Tuesday attended the inauguration of Iran's new president and met Iran's Supreme Leader.

The 62-year-old was a longtime political leader of the militant group. Haniyeh was born in a refugee camp near Gaza City, and joined the outfit in the late 1980s during the First Intifada, or uprising. By 2017, he had become chief of the group – and was named a “specially designated global terrorist” by the United States soon after.