Top officials in Washington are trying to avoid an expansion of the Middle East war after Iran launched an unprecedented attack on Israel with explosive drones and missiles.
“There need to be some consequences here,” a senior U.S. official said during a briefing with reporters on condition of anonymity on Sunday afternoon.
But in his latest conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden “made clear to the Prime Minister last night that we really have to think carefully and strategically about the risks of escalation,” especially given that the attack was only The official said the damage was minor and there were no major casualties.
Israeli officials insist there will be a response, but the country’s war cabinet appears divided over how and when to do so.
If Israel retaliates, it will do so alone.
Asked whether the United States would be involved in any military response to an Iranian attack, the senior administration official responded: “We would not envision ourselves being involved in something like this.”
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Israel, the United States and other partners repelled “more than 300 drones and missiles” launched by Iran, an “incredible military achievement.”
U.S. Central Command said its forces, supported by U.S. European Command destroyers, on Saturday and Sunday morning “successfully shot down and destroyed more than 80 one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicles (OWA UAVs) and at least six missiles designed to launch attacks from Ballistic missiles in Israel attacking Israel”. Iran and Yemen. This included the destruction of a ballistic missile on its launch vehicle and seven drones before launch in areas controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. “
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement late Saturday that the explosive aircraft and missiles were fired from inside Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
“We call on Iran to immediately cease any further attacks, including by its proxy forces, and to de-escalate tensions,” Austin said. “We do not seek conflict with Iran, but we will not hesitate to take action to protect our troops. and support Israel’s defense.”
On Sunday, he spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Yov Galante for the third time over the weekend.
Biden convened an emergency video conference of G7 leaders on Sunday to coordinate a unified diplomatic response to the Iranian attack.
Iran’s actions have further aggravated instability in the region and may trigger an uncontrolled escalation of the regional situation. This situation must be avoided,” G7 leaders said in a collective statement after the meeting. “We will continue to work to stabilize the situation and avoid further escalation. In this spirit, we demand that Iran and its proxies cease their attacks, and we stand ready to take further steps to counter further destabilizing efforts. “
Biden spoke by phone with Netanyahu on Saturday night to “reaffirm the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security.”
According to media reports, Biden told Netanyahu that because Iran’s attack caused only minimal casualties and damage, Israel should not retaliate against Iran.
Both Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have been calling on regional leaders to make clear that while Washington does not seek direct military confrontation with Tehran, the United States will continue to defend Israel without hesitation.
Earlier on Saturday, Biden returned to Washington from a visit to Delaware and held a meeting with key Cabinet officials in the White House Situation Room as Iran vowed to respond to a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate on April 1 in retaliation for the incident and launched an unprecedented attack. Damascus.
Israel neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack.
The U.S. military has begun sending additional troops and equipment to the Middle East, Defense Department officials confirmed Friday. It has about 40,000 troops in the region.
In anticipation of an Iranian attack, the U.S. Navy moved two guided-missile destroyers capable of intercepting drones and incoming missiles closer to Israel, wall street journal reported.
The U.S. Navy’s Red Sea Force previously intercepted a long-range missile launched by Iran’s ally Houthi armed forces from Yemen toward Israel.
The Biden administration’s response to the Iran attack will be closely watched by his political opponents, with less than seven months to go before an election rematch between the Democratic incumbent and his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.
Speaking at a rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, Trump claimed that “if we were in office, this attack would not have happened.” He did not elaborate on how it happened.
“God bless the people of Israel,” he said. “They’re being attacked right now. That’s because we showed a lot of vulnerability.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson failed to allow a floor vote on bipartisan Senate-passed legislation to provide security aid to Israel and Ukraine, accusing the Biden administration of undermining Israel and appeasing Iran and “contributing to these horrific developments.”
Ohio Republican Rep. Mike Turner called on Biden to respond more forcefully.
“I think the government needs to take the occurrence of this attack seriously. It’s unprecedented and certainly needs to be viewed as an escalation. This is an escalating conflict,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Turner told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. ” stated in the program.
Chris Coons, a Democrat in Biden’s home state of Delaware, urged lawmakers to pass Biden’s request for military aid to Israel.
“The House of Representatives should quickly pass the long-delayed National Security Supplement next week to ensure our Israeli allies have what they need to defend themselves against attacks by Iran and its proxies,” he said.
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