The Pentagon has recently announced an evacuation directive in Lebanon. The decision comes in the wake of rising tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. The military advisory imposes travel bans and calls for mission-hired and non-mission-hired families, as well as non-vital U.S. employees, to promptly leave the conflicted region. It’s a further restriction on U.S. Embassy Beirut personnel who are already barred from unapproved travel plans. Of course, it seems like the current administration is only interested in addressing the situation after it has escalated.
Meanwhile, it’s intriguing to note how President Joe Biden was quick to express support for Israel as it defends itself against Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other terrorist factions backed by Iran. This support, as per Biden, instructed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to augment U.S. defenses in the Middle East to ‘deter aggression’ and mitigate the possibility of an escalated war. It’s quite peculiar to witness Biden providing such direct orders amid the ongoing crisis.
Biden has gone as far as to laud the assassination of Nasrallah, framing it as an act of ‘justice’ for the casualties caused by Hezbollah, including Americans. According to Biden, ‘Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror.’ and ‘His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians.’ These remarks indicate Biden’s clear attempt to depict the compelling narrative the way he sees fit.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has expressed similar sentiments, claiming she and Biden are working on ‘a diplomatic solution along the Israel-Lebanon border.’ It appears Harris, when convenient, also regards Nasrallah as a ‘terrorist with American blood on his hands.’ Yet, the plans for a ‘diplomatic solution’ seem very vague, if not nonexistent.
In rising commitment, Harris mentioned, ‘I have an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel.’ and ‘I will always support Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.’ Interesting to see such assertive statements, amid the chaotic environment and the evident inefficiency of their previous attempts to manage the situation.
The U.S. Embassy is also advocating for U.S. nationals to evacuate Lebanon while commercial routes are still operational. Seemingly, it’s a clear indication of their lack of any substantive plan to manage the brewing crisis, further exacerbating the fears of those on the ground.
Commercial airlines are still functioning in the area albeit at a lowered capacity due to the deteriorating security situation. The DOD warns that these commercial options could vanish if the situation continues to escalate. It’s yet another sign of the administration’s failure to anticipate or control the crisis.
Moreover, the Embassy has cautioned that it might be powerless to aid citizens who decide to remain in Lebanon if the situation further deteriorates. For those opting to stay, the Department of Defense advises them to hunker down and specifically encourages individuals near the borders with Syria and in refugee settlements to ‘depart those areas immediately.’
The ‘do not travel’ warning was issued in light of crime, terrorism, civic unrest, kidnapping, unexploded landmines, and the risk of armed conflict, according to the Department of Defense. The notification was made following the assassination of the Hezbollah leader on Friday. Seems like all this could have been preventable with some proactive foreign policy strategies, instead of the defensive measures that are being enforced now.
Following Nasrallah’s assassination, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has allegedly been moved to a secure location due to heightened safety concerns. Iran is reportedly maintaining ‘constant contact’ with Hezbollah and its other proxy factions to decipher their next moves. And what’s the U.S. doing in face of this? Well, according to Biden, working to ‘de-escalate conflicts through diplomatic means.’
Apparently, the U.S. has sent more forces to the Middle East in response to the surge in violence between Israel and Hezbollah. Now, isn’t it intriguing how the U.S. suddenly decides to bolster its military presence right after things head south?
Nasrallah, preceding his death, had been leading Hezbollah since Israel assassinated his predecessor, Abbas al-Musawi, in 1992. Over his three decades at the helm, Nasrallah managed to significantly enhance Hezbollah’s artillery and embed the group in Lebanon’s political sphere, furthering Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’ mission. Clearly, the death marks an extraordinary triumph for Israeli intelligence but also a potential turning point in the escalating conflicts.
And the skirmishes continue, instigated by Iran’s proxies, such as Hamas attacking Israel, leading to Israel’s retaliatory measures. The conflicts have been ongoing for almost a year, and Nasrallah’s death is likely to prompt an Iranian response.