US President Joe Biden addressed the recent Israeli airstrikes on Yemen during a White House press conference on Monday, revealing that he had spoken with both parties involved. He emphasized that his administration supports efforts for a collective resolution, stating, “Spoke with both sides at the outset of the strike. We support the collective bargaining effort. I think they’ll settle the strike.”
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) had recently launched airstrikes targeting Houthi-controlled military sites in Yemen, including power plants and a seaport. These attacks were in response to the Houthis’ recent assaults on Israel. On September 29, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) shared a post on X, saying, “The IAF struck military targets belonging to the Houthi terrorist regime in Yemen in response to their recent attacks against Israel.” The post also noted, “The targets included power plants and a seaport, which were used by the Houthis to transfer Iranian weapons to the region, in addition to military supplies and oil.”
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During the press conference, Biden also addressed rising tensions between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, firmly denying any plans to send additional US troops to the Middle East. When asked if he would send more troops amid the escalating violence, Biden responded with a simple, “no.”
Despite this, the Pentagon had announced on September 29 plans to increase US military presence in the region. Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder stated, “The Secretary has also increased the readiness of additional US forces to deploy, elevating our preparedness to respond to various contingencies. And Department of Defence maintains robust and integrated air-defence capabilities across the Middle East, ensuring the protection of US forces operating in the region.”
Biden also confirmed that he would soon be speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Yes. I will be talking to him, and I’ll tell you what I say to him when I talk to him,” he said.
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