ADDS MORE DETAILS
By Servet Gunerigok
WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden said Thursday that he does not believe there will be an all-out war in the Middle East.
Asked how he is confident that a full-blown war can be averted in the region, he said: "I don’t believe there is going to be an all-out war. I think we can avoid it.”
“But there is a lot to do yet, a lot to do yet,” he added, speaking at the White House.
He also responded to a question on whether he would dispatch American troops to help Israel, saying the US has already helped Israel.
"We are going to protect Israel," he added.
His remarks came after a ballistic missile attack by Iran against Israel on Tuesday and ensuing Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon.
Earlier in the day, Israeli forces launched a series of airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs and areas of Mount Lebanon Governorate.
Israeli aircraft bombed several areas in the southern suburbs, including the Hay al-Sellom neighborhood and an apartment in the Chiyah area.