2024-04-15 16:54:08
In a phone call with Netanyahu on Saturday night, Mr. Biden “made it clear” to him that it was necessary to “think carefully and strategically about the risks of escalation,” a senior U.S. government official said Sunday.
According to the official, it is an ongoing discussion with Israel and other allies, and Mr. Biden has also made it clear that the United States will help Israel defend itself.
Israel has previously assured the US government that it has no intention of substantially escalating the conflict with Iran, a government spokesman explained.
Iran’s direct attack on Israel over the weekend fueled fears of a wider conflict in the Middle East. The international community already started making efforts to defuse the situation on Sunday.
Mr. Biden and other leaders of the seven largest democratic industrialized countries (the G7) discussed the crisis and condemned the large-scale attack in the strongest possible terms.
“We don’t want the situation to escalate. We don’t want a bigger war with Iran,” John Kirby, director of communications for the US government’s National Security Council, said on Sunday, adding that the US president has made it clear that he does not seek war with Iran.
The US will continue to help Israel defend itself, Mr. Kirby explained, but what action Israel takes “will be up to itself.”
The US is Israel’s staunchest ally and largest military sponsor, and has repeatedly expressed its support amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran.
It was unclear on Sunday whether Israel would take any action in response to Iran’s unprecedented attack the day before, which Israel said involved the use of around 300 missiles and drones.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that its forces have shot down dozens of drones and missiles flying towards Israel in the Red Sea region.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces, supported by U.S. Europe Command’s squadron destroyers, successfully engaged and destroyed more than 80 kamikaze drones and at least six ballistic missiles launched into Israel from Iran and Yemen,” the statement said.
“These included one ballistic missile that was in the launch system and seven drones that were destroyed before they were launched in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis.”
Iran’s Operation True Promise was carried out in response to the April 1 an airstrike on its embassy in Damascus that killed two generals and several other Guardsmen. The attack is believed to have been carried out by Israel, which has not yet denied responsibility.
Iran declared Israel as its greatest enemy after 1979. Islamic revolutions.
With the outbreak of war in Gaza in October, decades of tension between the two countries have escalated.
2024-04-15 16:54:08