US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee says he’s had no updates on the prospects of a return to the heavy US strikes on Iran seen in the early months of the war, but it won’t “work well” for Tehran, the ambassador told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
“Decisions [to return to a larger conflict] will be made by the president and by CENTCOM,” Huckabee said. “I usually find out about the time they do it.”
He asserted that he had no information about the status of those decisions, and that to make an assessment on the matter would be “pure speculation.”
“But here’s what I would say,” Huckabee added, “I wouldn’t be overconfident if I were the Iranians that they will be able to make this work well for them.”
In other comments to Israeli media, the ambassador said that, despite having ample opportunities to broker an agreement with the US, the Iranian regime has proven itself to be “not serious people when it comes to making peace” and has “not decided to behave like civilized people.”
Regime change ultimately up to the people
Nevertheless, he said, as far as he knew, there had been no decision about pursuing regime change in Tehran, and that such a step would have to be taken by the Iranian people.
“Ultimately up to the Iranian people whether there’s going to be a regime change, not to outside forces as much,” Huckabee said.
On the topic of Lebanon, the ambassador affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself and said that the IDF wouldn’t be able to withdraw from southern Lebanon until the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) reclaimed and asserted its control over the areas where Hezbollah remains active.
IDF won't withdraw from Lebanon until LAF asserts control over Hezbollah
“Everyone understands that Israel has an absolute right to defend itself against attacks,” he said, adding that the communities in northern Israel, like Metula and Kiryat Shmona, cannot perpetually live under the threat of Hezbollah rocket fire.
“What really came out of the meetings in Washington that I thought was significant was everyone finally understood that Israel is not looking to annex Lebanon. It doesn’t want to stay there - that’s not its goal,” Huckabee said.
“They’d love to get out, but they can’t completely until the Lebanese are able to take, piece by piece, the land where Hezbollah has strongholds, and from which they attack Israel. When that happens, and the LAF is able to manage that ground, Israel will send everybody back home.”
Huckabee, Yarden Bibas dedicate olive tree to Shiri, Ariel, Kfir Bibas
Huckabee’s remarks came during a visit to Moshav Hayogev in northern Israel, where he took part in the dedication of an olive tree to Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, a mother and two young children who were murdered while in captivity in Gaza.
Yarden Bibas and his wife Shiri, along with their sons, four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir, were taken hostage during the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel. Only Yarden, who was present for the dedication with his sister Ofri, was returned alive.
The event took place as part of the My Tree in Israel initiative, in which Huckabee has been active.
"The sacrifice that your family made for the people of Israel is one that obviously is not being forgotten," Huckabee told Yarden and Ofri during the dedication. "With the plaque on the tree, it's a reminder that life is still coming. The olives, every year, will produce wonderful, beautiful olive oil that you'll be able to have and share, and know that it's in memory of Shiri and your two sons."
The ambassador added that "all over America" people have been praying for the Bibas family and that the family had become, in many ways, "the face of the hostages."
Those interested in sponsoring a tree through My Tree in Israel can find more information on the organization's website.