US President Joe Biden called Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah “a measure of justice” for his many victims, and said Washington fully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran-supported groups, Reuters reports.

In a statement released by the White House, Biden said he had directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to further enhance the defense posture of US military forces in the Middle East to deter aggression and reduce the risk of a broader conflict.

Ultimately, Biden said, the US aimed to de-escalate ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means.

“It’s time for a ceasefire,” Biden said, when asked by reporters in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware if an Israeli ground incursion into Lebanon was inevitable.