Biden warned Trump that Israel 'won't miss chance' to escalate Gaza war to Iran strikes – report

Biden administration officials reportedly believed Israel would expand the Gaza war to strike Iran and Lebanon, according to The New Yorker. Former President Biden reportedly thought US pressure on Israel would lead to larger Iranian attacks, compelling US defense and risking regional war. Despite US warnings, Prime Minister Netanyahu allegedly conducted strikes without prior notification, including the September 2024 beeper attack and the assassination of a Hezbollah leader, which a former White House official called a “humiliation” for Biden. Officials also stated Netanyahu “reluctantly” backed down from further Iranian infrastructure attacks. Philip Gordon, former national-security adviser to then-vice-president Kamala Harris, stated, “We could advise them very firmly, and Biden did that with Bibi repeatedly: 'Goddammit, take the win and don't drag us into a further war.' But the Israelis knew we were going to defend them.” Biden's team reportedly warned the incoming Trump administration that "the Israelis were not going to let this opportunity go." Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated the US struck Iran in March because Israeli strikes were imminent, which would have provoked attacks on US forces.