WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — The White House says it is working to ease growing tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of a top Hamas official in Lebanon. The Biden administration remains concerned that the war in Gaza could expand after a drone strike eliminated a senior Hamas leader in Lebanon on Tuesday.
“The message remains the same…we continue to believe that it is not in Hezbollah’s interest, just as it is not in Israel’s interest to escalate this conflict,” said Matthew Miller, State Department spokesperson.
The Biden administration says it has no information linking Israel to the strike and received no advance warning.
However, Hezbollah, Hamas’ ally in Lebanon, calls this strike a crime that “will never go unanswered and without punishment.”
The Israeli military did not take credit for the attack, but said it was on alert as it continued its campaign inside Gaza.
The administration also rebuffed any suggestions from the United States. and Israel were involved in two bombings in Iran. The explosions, which occurred during a celebration of the life of a slain Israeli general, killed more than 100 people.
The United States and 11 other countries issued a letter on Wednesday warning Iran-backed Houthi rebels to stop attacks on commercial and military ships inside the Red Sea.