The latest news indicates that US President Joe Biden is expected to hold an important phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning to discuss Israel’s plans to counter Iran.
This call will mark Biden and Netanyahu’s conversation since August. At this time, due to Iran’s missile attack last week, Israel is considering a response that may escalate tensions in the Middle East.
According to Axios, an American news outlet, two Israeli officials stated that Netanyahu, on Tuesday night, had discussions for several hours with senior ministers, as well as heads of the Israeli military and intelligence departments, trying to make decisions on the scope and timing of Israel’s potential attacks.
Once a decision is made, Netanyahu will brief Biden on the situation.
A White House official told the media that the Biden administration “hopes to try to limit Israel’s retaliatory actions” through this call. The official stated that the White House aims to ensure that Israel’s attacks on Iran are both significant and not excessive.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had planned to travel to Washington on Tuesday to meet with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at the Pentagon. However, this trip was canceled at the last minute.
Last Tuesday, Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which penetrated Israel’s air defense systems. Most of the missiles were intercepted, but there was some damage to structures at two Israeli Air Force bases. Several missiles landed near the headquarters of Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, in the suburbs of Tel Aviv, without causing significant damage.
Iran claimed that this attack was in response to Israel’s series of assassination operations against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian senior officials. Iran also stated that the action would end unless Israel retaliated.
Netanyahu pledged that Israel would “respond” to Iran’s missile attack.
As the US presidential election enters its final month countdown, the Biden administration is attempting to ease tensions in the Middle East.
Last Wednesday, Biden stated that the US does not support Israel using attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities as a retaliatory measure.
On Saturday, Biden made a rare appearance at a White House press conference during his tenure, reiterating US support for Israel’s right to self-defense but expressing disapproval of Israeli attacks on Iranian oil fields.