U.S. President Joe Biden expressed cautious optimism that an “all-out war” in the Middle East could be avoided, despite Israel’s military response to a significant missile attack from Iran.

Speaking to reporters, Biden emphasized the need for further efforts to prevent a wider conflict as Israel launched new airstrikes in Beirut against the militant group Hezbollah.

When asked about his confidence in averting war, Biden likened it to predicting the weather: “How confident are you it’s not going to rain? 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.”

The U.S., European Union, and other allies have called for a 21-day ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Lebanon conflict. Biden confirmed that discussions were ongoing with Israel regarding its potential responses to Iran’s aggression, which may include targeting Iranian oil facilities.

His remarks have contributed to a rise in global oil prices, as market concerns about supply disruptions grow.

Despite heightened tensions, Biden assured that “nothing is going to happen today” and refrained from publicly urging Israel against strikes on Iranian oil installations.

Earlier, he had stated that he would not support any Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites.

Amidst these developments, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, indicated that Israel has multiple retaliatory options and plans to demonstrate its strength to Tehran soon. However, a U.S. official noted that Israel had not yet finalized its response strategy.

In recent military actions, Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut, specifically an underground bunker linked to Hashem Safieddine, a potential successor to the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah.

The fate of Safieddine remains unclear. Concurrently, Hezbollah claimed to have launched approximately 230 rockets into Israel.

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As the conflict intensifies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Iran would face consequences for its missile attack. Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that any military aggression would be met with a decisive response.

The Group of Seven (G7) nations condemned Iran’s missile strike while calling for restraint and an end to hostilities. Qatar’s Emir also urged for serious ceasefire efforts to address what he termed Israeli aggression.

In light of the escalating violence, a U.S. lawmaker has urged expedited weapons shipments to Israel, including large bombs necessary for targeting Hezbollah’s fortified positions.

As of Friday, Lebanon’s health ministry reported 27 deaths and 151 injuries from recent strikes, highlighting the severe humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict. Hezbollah claimed to have killed 17 Israeli troops during recent clashes, while Israel reported an airstrike in the West Bank that resulted in additional casualties.