Washington, 2 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) - US President Joe Biden had a "very direct" call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after the killings of a top Hamas leader and a Hezbollah military commander, according to the White House and reports.

In the call on Thursday, Biden reaffirmed Washington's support for Israel in its fight against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, all of whom are backed by Iran.

He had a "very direct" conversation with Netanyahu, he told reporters at an air base during a welcome event for the US nationals released in a prisoner exchange, according to US media reports.

The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran has “not helped” the chances of a ceasefire deal in Gaza, Biden said.

"We have laid the groundwork for a ceasefire. He should engage with it, and they should engage with it now," Biden said, according to the reports. He also expressed significant concern about the tensions escalating in the Middle East, after Iran vowed to retaliate.

“We’re very concerned about it,” Biden said, adding he and Vice President Kamala Harris had discussed the matter with Netanyahu.

The conversation also covered new US military aid to Israel to help fend off drone and rocket attacks, the White House said, and called for efforts to de-escalate in the region.

Israel assassinated Hezbollah's top commander, Fuad Shukr, on Tuesday in Beirut. A few hours later, Haniyeh was killed in an attack in the Iranian capital Tehran.

Iran and Hamas accused Israel of killing Haniyeh and threatened retaliation. The Israeli government has not yet commented but fears are growing of a potentially large, coordinated attack on Israel by Iran, Hezbollah and other allied militias in the region. 

MIA file photo