On Sunday, President Biden indicated that he would be speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu very soon, just ahead of an intensification of the Israel-Hamas conflict that included recent military actions in Lebanon. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) executed an airstrike in Beirut, marking a significant escalation as it was the first attack in the city's central area during the ongoing year-long war.

In his remarks from Dover Air Force Base, Biden confirmed his plans to communicate with Netanyahu, which happened just hours before the airstrike was carried out. When questioned about the possibility of an “all-out war” in the Middle East, Biden stressed the importance of de-escalation and mentioned that precautions have already been taken for U.S. embassies and personnel in the region, hinting at ongoing efforts to collaborate with allies like France to avoid further conflict.

The airstrike specifically targeted the Sunni militant group Al-Jamāʻah al-islāmīyah and occurred amid a series of strikes that had primarily focused on Hezbollah, a Shi'ite group in Lebanon. The IDF reported substantial casualties in Lebanon over the weekend, including the death of notable Hezbollah leaders, indicating a significant military operation by Israel as tensions remain high.