President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are moving toward an agreement on Israel's plan to attack Iran, raising concerns about a potential escalation of violence in the Middle East. U.S. and Israeli officials suggested Wednesday's phone call between the two leaders and vice president and presidential candidate Kamala Harris was a “productive” step toward aligning strategies, according to Axios. .
The Call
According to a reading of the call, Mr. Biden “affirmed his firm commitment to Israel's security.” He also “unequivocally condemned Iran's October 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel.” On this day, Iran launched ballistic missile attacks targeting Israel's defense infrastructure and military bases. The assault was reportedly in retaliation for the killings of key figures including Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. Israel said it had thwarted most of the attacks.
The White House also stated:
The President affirmed Israel's right to protect its people from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel in the past year alone, while minimizing harm to civilians, especially in the densely populated areas of Beirut. He emphasized the need to restrain.
The call to “minimize civilian casualties” stems from the devastating impact of Israel's retaliatory military attack on Lebanon following Iranian attack. Israeli attacks targeted Hezbollah strongholds, military positions, and infrastructure in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. The bombardment caused heavy casualties, with more than 2,000 people reportedly killed and more than 1 million people evacuated. The scale of civilian casualties is so great that the international community is calling for restraint, and all parties are called upon to protect non-combatants as the conflict escalates.
In a subsequent phone call with Jewish American rabbis, Biden reiterated his support for Israel's right to protect itself from Iran and its proxies.
Israel
According to Axios, Netanyahu spent hours in intensive discussions Tuesday night. He met with senior Israeli ministers and heads of military and intelligence agencies. The focus of the talks was the scope and timing of Israel's expected retaliation.
Israeli officials have indicated that future attacks will be large-scale.
Israeli officials say the retaliation is expected to be significant and include a combination of airstrikes against military targets inside Iran and covert attacks like the one that killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. states that it is highly likely.
Israel's Security Cabinet, the main body responsible for authorizing military operations, convened for four hours on Friday to discuss retaliatory strikes against Iran. Despite extensive discussion, the cabinet postponed a vote on the timing and targets of the attack.
According to local media reports, the Cabinet appears to be strategically delaying decisions to maintain the element of surprise. The delay could also affect Galland's planned trip to the United States, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tied the trip to securing cabinet approval for the operation. The Cabinet had previously agreed on the need to retaliate following the Iranian missile attack on October 1. However, details such as when and where the attack will occur are unlikely to be revealed publicly until the attack actually takes place.
Biden administration
The Biden administration has acknowledged that Israel is planning a major retaliatory attack against Iran. However, it requires restraint when it comes to certain subjects. President Biden has made it clear that the United States does not support Israeli attacks on Iranian oil fields. He warned that such strikes would send global oil prices soaring and destabilize the global economy. The administration has also warned against targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, fearing it could spark a broader regional war.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the United States is offering Israel a large “compensation package.” This includes military aid and full diplomatic support. However, the proposal is conditional on Israel limiting its attacks on Iran to targets pre-approved by the US government. Additionally, the United States pledged to protect Israel from any retaliation from Iran.
To be sure, there is no guarantee that Israel will accept this proposal. Indeed, Israel has a track record of pursuing military action despite warnings from the United States.
But as reported by the American Conservative, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan suggested that Israel's ongoing military operations in the region are “Washington's war as well.”
War between the US and Iran?
As the conflict escalates into full-scale war, American taxpayers, as always, are footing the bill. Since October 7, 2023, the United States has provided a record $17.9 billion to support Israel's war effort.
Furthermore, there is a possibility that the United States could be directly involved in the attack. This is according to a recent NBC report mentioned by former Congressman Ron Paul, a prominent anti-war advocate.
Non-interventionist critics warn that unconditional support for Israel's aggressive actions against Iran risks provoking a wider and bloodier conflict. This could draw more countries into the fray in an already volatile region and deplete U.S. resources with little bang for the buck.
Adding to this concern, those like Congressman Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who are the only constitutional voices in Congress, believe that any military action by the United States must be approved by Congress. Emphasized. Mr Massey has criticized the government for not seeking this approval.
Massey even implied that President Biden would commit an impeachable crime if he went to war with Iran without Congressional consent.
presidential candidate
Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump both believe that Iran is a major threat to the United States.
In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Harris said Iran is America's “greatest enemy.” She claimed that the country “has American blood” because of the Oct. 1 attack on an Israeli base, even though there were no reports of American casualties.
As a staunch defender of Israel, President Trump has called for an aggressive approach to dealing with Iran. According to the former president, in the context of the recent escalation, the “techniques of the agreement” also include attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities.
President Trump also believes that Iran was responsible for the recent assassination attempt against him, citing information shared with him by intelligence agencies.
He said a few weeks ago that Iran had threatened the United States “very directly,” adding, “The best way to do it is through the office of the president. That way, (if) a former president or a presidential candidate Any attack would threaten the power of the United States,” he added. As we say, the country will be blown to pieces. ”
