Axios: Israel Asks the U.S. to Prevent Possible Iranian Action After Killing Nasrallah

According to Axios, two Israeli and American officials told the news site that Israel has asked the United States to prevent any possible action by the Islamic Republic following the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The two sources stated that Israel requested the U.S. to take measures to deter the Islamic Republic from attacking Israel in response to its airstrike in Beirut, which killed not only Hassan Nasrallah but also a senior Iranian military official. Axios reports that the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was already on the brink of escalating into a major war that could involve the Islamic Republic even before Nasrallah's death. With the killing of Hassan Nasrallah, Tehran's most powerful ally in the region, and a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the situation has become more complicated. According to Axios, prior to Israel's attack on the outskirts of Beirut on Friday, the Islamic Republic was careful not to engage directly in a war with Israel, but the killing of Nasrallah has raised concerns among Israeli and American officials about a possible response from Tehran. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a statement on Saturday, saying he has instructed the U.S. Secretary of Defense to 'strengthen the defensive posture of U.S. military forces in the Middle East to prevent aggression and reduce the risk of a broader regional war.' The request for U.S. support from Israel comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized U.S. pressure to reach a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah, while announcing continued attacks on the militant group despite Washington's calls for de-escalation. The U.S. government claims it was unaware of the Israeli attack that resulted in Nasrallah's death, yet did not criticize such an action and reminded that Israel has the right to defend itself. In his statement regarding Nasrallah's death, President Biden said: 'Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah, the terrorist group he commands, have been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans over four decades of terror reign. His death, following the Israeli airstrike, is seen as justice for his countless victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.' Biden further stated: 'The attack that led to Nasrallah's death is part of broader conflicts that arose after the massacre committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The day after this massacre, Nasrallah made a fateful decision to support Hamas by opening what he called the 'Northern Front' against Israel.' Biden emphasized that 'the U.S. fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and any other terrorist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.' After the Israeli army announced on Saturday, October 7, that Hassan Nasrallah had been killed in the attack on the southern outskirts of Beirut, Hezbollah finally confirmed the death of its secretary-general in these attacks. Hassan Nasrallah was the third secretary-general of Hezbollah, following Sobhi al-Tufayli and Abbas Mousawi, and was one of the most loyal commanders of the Islamic Republic's proxy forces to Ali Khamenei.