Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group, issued a word of caution to Israel, saying that the United States' withdrawal from Afghanistan called into question its ability to be a reliable ally.
The withdrawal of troops gave rise to the Taliban, which rapidly took control of the country. The chaotic situation that unfolded prompted bipartisan criticism of President Joe Biden at home and from adversaries abroad, including China and Hezbollah, who have capitalized on the fallout to sow skepticism of America's support of other nations and territories.
In a Tuesday night speech, Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah, said the Israelis are "watching most closely and drawing conclusions" from the aftermath in Afghanistan.
"In order not to have Americans fighting for other [nations], Biden was able to accept a historic failure. When it comes to Lebanon and those around it, what will be the case there?" Nasrallah said, according to The Times of Israel.
The rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan raised concerns about increased terrorist threats to the United States and the stability of the region. Biden invited Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the White House next week to discuss "critical issues related to regional and global security."
White House press secretary Jen Psaki added that the visit will "strengthen the enduring partnership" between the two countries and "underscore the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's security."
Despite assurances that U.S. departure from Afghanistan would be responsible and well-planned, Kabul, the capital city, devolved into mass chaos after the Taliban's takeover. People flooded the airport in the hopes of being evacuated and some even clung to the side of a military plane as it took off, later falling to their deaths.
Legislators had been pressuring the Biden administration since June to ensure Afghans who had helped Americans during the war were brought to safety and he faced criticism as many were left behind. The Biden administration has a tough task ahead of them to complete the evacuation mission and it's unclear if they'll be successful.
Nasrallah criticized the United States for evacuating military dogs before some Afghans who aided America during the war.
On Monday, the Global Times, a Chinese state-run news outlet, issued a similar warning to Taiwan. An editorial noted that Afghanistan spiraled out of control as America exited and questioned, "Is this some kind of omen of Taiwan's future?"
The U.S. has no official relationship with Taiwan, but has supported maintaining the status quo where Taiwan operates autonomously from mainland China. Beijing sees reunification with Taiwan as a "historic mission," raising concerns that an armed conflict between Taiwan and the mainland could draw in the United States.
Taiwanese officials rejected the comparison, and Su Tseng-chang, Taiwan's 74-year-old premier, advised people not to underestimate the Taiwanese people's will to fight for their rights. He noted that the situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban faced little resistance, showed external assistance is ineffective if there is internal chaos.
