The Middle East is on the verge of a much larger war than the one between Israel and Iran’s terrorist proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. Yesterday’s largely unsuccessful missile barrage by Iran against Israel heightened tensions, and it followed a ground incursion by the Israel Defense Forces into southern Lebanon earlier in the day.

With Israel seeing increasing tactical successes against Hezbollah — the latest being the taking out of its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with a targeted airstrike — Tehran appears to be once again lashing out wildly, as it did in April with a massive aerial attack.

Before the attack, Joe Biden posted on X that he and Kamala Harris had “convened our national security team to discuss Iranian plans to launch an imminent missile attack against Israel.” He added, “We discussed how the United States is prepared to help Israel defend against these attacks, and protect American personnel in the region.”

After Iran’s attack, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that U.S. military forces in the region helped Israel defend against the missile barrage, adding, “We do not know of any damage to aircraft or strategic military assets in Israel. In short, based on what we know at this point, this attack appears to have been defeated and ineffective. The [term] fog of war was invented for a situation like this. This is a fluid situation.” Despite the apparent lack of any serious damage or loss of life from the attack, Sullivan called it “a significant escalation by Iran” and “a significant event.”

Donald Trump was quick to respond, posting on Truth Social: “Look at the World today — Look at the missiles flying right now in the Middle East, look at what’s happening with Russia/Ukraine, look at Inflation destroying the World. NONE OF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS PRESIDENT!”

American Jewish lawmakers blasted the attack, with Representative Max Miller (R-OH) saying that the U.S. stands with Israel and that “Iran and its proxies must stop threatening the world.” Miller had previously commended Israel for having taken out Nasrallah. Florida Democrat Representative Jared Moskowitz shared Miller’s sentiment, saying that Iran “made a mistake” and “has put its nuclear facilities on the board as fair game.”

New York Democrat Representative Dan Goldman contended that “Hezbollah’s presence at the border is in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which was the basis for a cease-fire in 2006.” Therefore, he continued, “If the UN and international community will not enforce 1701, then Israel must do so to prevent Hezbollah from continuing to attack Israel.”

Israel announced it will respond with “powerful airstrikes throughout the Middle East.” IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari promised that “this fire will have consequences,” adding, “We have plans, and we will act in the time and place that we choose.”

The Pentagon announced on Monday that it was increasing U.S. military forces in the area, bringing the total number to an estimated 43,000 troops. Yes, Vice President Harris, America does have troops in war zones.

With the potential for a direct war with Iran looming, the geopolitical situation that the Biden/Harris administration has invited is both tenuous and ominous. Instead of showing leadership and strength on the global front, Biden and Harris have overseen a shameful and dangerous erosion of American influence.

Biden and Harris are now sitting in the White House, apparently just waiting for the next shoe to drop. Yet their foreign policy amounts to little other than reactionary finger-wagging.