Live: 'We can avoid' all-out war in the Middle East, says Biden US President Joe Biden told reporters on Thursday that it was still possible to avoid further escalation in the ongoing crisis in the Middle East on Thursday, saying he doesn't "doesn't believe there is going to be an all-out war." As Israel signaled wider operations with new evacuation orders in Lebanon on Thursday, Lebanon's health ministry reported 37 deaths from Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours.