The rapidly escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon is further threatening President Biden’s efforts to reduce tension in the Middle East, leaving the president with ever-diminishing options to secure a ceasefire-and-hostage deal that has become his top priority in the final months of his presidency.

President Biden said the U.S. is doing “everything we can” to prevent wider war in the Middle East on Sunday. “We’re going to do everything we can to keep a wider war from breaking out,” the

This is one of Biden’s final opportunities to tout his foreign policy legacy on the world stage, but the focus is likely to be on an escalating conflict.

US President Joe Biden and other world powers on Sunday implored Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement to refrain from escalating their conflict.