President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed the tense situation with security advisors in the White House's so-called situation room on Monday evening.
"We received updates on threats from Iran and its proxies, diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions and preparations to support Israel if it were to be attacked again," Biden writes in a statement on X.
During the meeting, Biden and Harris were informed that it is still unclear when Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah's feared attack on Israel can begin, as well as what it might look like, reports Reuters, citing an American official.
Diplomatic Efforts
"Our commitment to Israel's security is unwavering," says Vice President Kamala Harris in a post on X after the meeting.
Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, who also participated in the meeting, said on Monday that extensive diplomatic efforts are underway to calm down the situation.
We are engaged in intense diplomacy, almost around the clock, with a very simple message – all parties must refrain from escalation, said Blinken.
It is also crucial that we break this cycle by achieving a ceasefire in Gaza, continued Blinken.
Rocket Attack on Military Base
Biden and Harris were also informed about several American soldiers being injured in a rocket attack on a military base in western Iraq on Monday.
No one has taken responsibility for the attack, but according to the US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, the responsibility lies with Iran and Iran-backed militias, according to a statement from the US Defense Department.
"Today's Iran-backed militia attack on American forces stationed at Al-Asad airbase in western Iraq marked a dangerous escalation and demonstrates Iran's destabilizing role in the region," writes the US Defense Department in a statement following Austin's conversation with Israel's counterpart Yoav Gallant.
Biden states after the security meeting that he discussed how the US will respond to the attack.
Tensions in the Middle East have increased after Iran and its proxies threatened Israel with retaliation since Hamas's political leader Ismail Haniya and Hezbollah's commander Fuad Shukr were killed last week.
