Smoke billows over Beirut southern suburbs after a strike, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, as seen from Sin El Fil, Lebanon October 9, 2024. (REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir)

The 30-minute discussion was "direct and very productive," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, while acknowledging the two leaders have disagreements and are open about them.

Biden urged renewed diplomacy on Gaza and affirmed Israel's right to defend itself against Hezbollah, the White House said.

Israel has promised that  Iran will pay for its missile attack, which caused little damage, while Tehran has said any retaliation would be met with vast destruction, raising fears of a wider conflict in the region that could draw in the United States.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant promised an Israeli strike against Iran will be "lethal, precise and surprising."