'Gotta laugh': Internet mocks Biden as report claims prez talked down Israel from striking Hezbollah after Hamas attack
WASHINGTON, DC: In an eyebrow-raising turn of events, it has been reported that Israel had warplanes ready for a preemptive strike against Hezbollah in Lebanon just four days after Hamas's October 7 terror onslaught.
However, according to The Wall Street Journal, US President Joe Biden convinced Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call off the strike at the eleventh hour.
Israeli officials urgently reached out to their American counterparts on October 11, sharing intelligence pointing to an imminent Hezbollah cross-border attack.
This attack was feared to be similar to the one carried out by Hamas, resulting in the massacre of 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of roughly 240 hostages.
The Journal cited unnamed officials familiar with the matter, stating that Israel sought US assistance, recognizing the IDF's limitations in executing such a significant strike independently.
Divergent assessments: US-Israel intelligence misalignment
President Biden's top aides convened at 6.30 am to assess the situation. Following a meeting, it was determined that US intelligence did not align with Israel's warnings.
Biden subsequently phoned Netanyahu during a 45-minute call, expressing skepticism and urging against the preemptive strike. Biden emphasized that a two-front war could still be avoided, but an IDF attack of this nature would make it inevitable.
Behind the scenes, sources revealed that the US had been receiving messages from Iran, communicated through intermediaries. These messages purportedly expressed Tehran's disinterest in further regional escalation.
The content of these messages played a pivotal role in shaping Washington's response to Israel's urgent warning.
As the situation unfolded, the IDF mobilized tens of thousands of troops in anticipation of a potential Hezbollah assault. Alarming alerts were sent to Israeli residents of the north, instructing them to enter bomb shelters. However, these alerts were later deemed false alarms, adding a layer of confusion to an already tense atmosphere.
In the ensuing six hours, Israeli and US officials engaged in intense back-and-forth calls, attempting to navigate the escalating tensions and conflicting assessments.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant advocated strongly for the preemptive strike, supported by the IDF. Netanyahu, although opposed to the idea, strategically secured an agreement with Benny Gantz for the National Unity party to enter the government.
Gantz and his colleague, Gadi Eisenkot, both former IDF chiefs of staff, aligned with Netanyahu against the preemptive strike. With this support, Netanyahu felt empowered to resist Gallant's push. The war cabinet, now with Gantz and Eisenkot, ultimately decided to call off the attack later that day, per the Times of Israel.
Joe Biden trolled after WSJ report
The WSJ report sparked a wave of social media reactions, with many poking fun at Biden.
"Gotta laugh," one posted on Facebook.
"Given Biden's prowess in persuasive language which is second to none, am surprised there is still any fighting!" another joked.
"He does have a way with words," someone else quipped.
"That’s called a missed opportunity," another offered.
The Prime Minister's Office, however, denied the WSJ report, asserting that Netanyahu prioritized the southern front after October 7, a stance allegedly adopted by the war cabinet.
Previous reports suggested internal disagreement, with Gallant and IDF officials advocating for a Hezbollah attack before dealing with Hamas, a military doctrine that Netanyahu reportedly rejected in this instance.
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