Speculations boil over why US president was "abruptly" pulled into Situation Room

US President Joe Biden's abrupt departure from a speech at the Executive Office Building to attend the Situation Room of the White House and the ensuing social media speculation about the reason behind it have generated multiple theories.

As reported by Newsweek, while some believed it might be linked to the release of hostages in Gaza or rumors about Russian President Vladimir Putin's health, a White House spokesperson assured that Biden left for a regularly scheduled briefing on developments in Israel and Gaza on October 24.

"Additionally, there was speculation on social media that his exit could be connected to reported attacks on US bases in the Middle East by Iranian-backed militants, although the precise cause remains unconfirmed.

Some social media users speculated that Biden's abrupt exit was due to attacks on US installations in the Middle East by Iranian-backed Islamist militants, who have been conducting strikes on American positions for six consecutive days. The attacks prompted an increased US military presence in the eastern Mediterranean to act as a deterrent.

The Pentagon confirmed that there had been two attempted drone attacks on the Al-Tanf base in Syria, which were 'taken down'. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington D.C.-based military affairs think tank, noted the Islamic Resistance of Iraq—a coalition of militias—had claimed a successful attack on US forces at Al-Malikiyah in Syria, though the Pentagon has not confirmed this.

The Islamic Resistance of Iraq also reportedly claimed responsibility for an attack on US forces near the Al-Omar oil field, according to multiple local outlets, but this has also yet to be confirmed. John Kirby, White House national security spokesperson, told Reuters late on Monday evening that America was 'not going to allow any threat to our interests in the region to go unchallenged' ", Newsweek reported.

There were also rumors about Putin's health, rumouring that the president had suffered a heart attack in his Moscow residence but the Kremlin has not publicly commented on these claims.