Foreign Relations

Huckabee Honors Bibas Family and Warns Iran in Israel Visit

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U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and his wife, Janet Huckabee, at the unveiling of a memorial olive tree in memory of the Bibas family at Moshav HaYogev in central Israel on July 9, 2026. Photo by Tal Marom.

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee joined former hostage Yarden Bibas and his sister Ofri at Moshav Hayogev on Thursday to dedicate an olive-tree tribute for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, who were murdered while held by Hamas in Gaza. Huckabee said President Donald Trump has seen in the last 48 hours that Iran is not serious about peace after renewed Gulf attacks, and warned Tehran not to assume renewed conflict would work well for it. He also said Israel has an absolute right to defend northern communities, and that any withdrawal from southern Lebanon depends on the Lebanese Armed Forces taking control where Hezbollah operates. The visit paired U.S.-Israel solidarity with remembrance of the Bibas family and Israel's security needs.

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