President Biden has reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Israel, but US officials have revealed that Washington had warned against supporting Tel Aviv in retaliating against Tehran. During a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden praised Israel’s defense capabilities and ability to neutralize unprecedented attacks from Iran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully intercepted 99% of the 300 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles fired by Iran targeting Israeli territory, with support from US forces in the region who shot down over 70 Iranian UAVs and three ballistic missiles. Despite this success, Biden emphasized a coordinated diplomatic response with Western allies rather than military action.
Axios and CNN reported that Biden cautioned Netanyahu against a military response to Iran, highlighting the importance of defense coordination with the US and partner countries in the region. The US reaffirmed its stance of not participating in any Israeli military campaign against Iran and encouraged Israel not to act impulsively in the face of escalating tensions.
US officials expressed concerns that Israeli hard-liners may push for military retaliation against Iran, potentially leading to a larger regional conflict with dire consequences. A White House official noted that Israel’s policy decisions may not always be the most reasonable and emphasized the need for strategic coordination to avoid further escalation.
Despite calls from Israeli officials for a powerful response against Tehran, Biden and his administration urged restraint and diplomacy. The focus remains on preventing a broader conflict and ensuring the security of Israel without risking further destabilization in the region. Both Israel and the US are evaluating their next steps in response to the recent attacks and working to avoid a potential escalation into full-scale war.
The United States has consistently maintained its stance of not directly engaging in any military action against Iran, despite calls from some Israeli officials for immediate retaliation following recent attacks on Israeli territory. Instead, Biden has emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement with both Tehran and our regional allies.
During a call with Netanyahu earlier this week, Biden reiterated his commitment to protecting Israel while also expressing concern about potential escalation if both countries take aggressive actions.
“We will work closely together to ensure that our interests are protected,” said Biden during the call.
Netanyahu thanked Biden for his support but also highlighted his own country’s ability to defend itself through its advanced weapons systems.
“Israel is more than capable of defending itself,” said Netanyahu during the call.
However, despite these assurances, tensions between Israel and Iran continue to simmer at high temperatures as both sides engage in increasingly provocative actions.
