WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not take part in a retaliatory strike against Iran, an option favored by Netanyahu’s war cabinet after mass drone and missile attacks on Israeli territory, according to officials.
The threat of open war between Middle Eastern foes and the tug-of-war of the United States (US) has put the region on edge, prompting calls for restraint from global powers and Arab countries to avoid further escalation.
The US will continue to help Israel defend itself but does not want war, John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday (April 14).
Jordan’s King Abdullah told Biden in a phone call on Sunday that further escalation from Israel would expand the conflict in the region, Jordanian state media reported.
Israeli officials said five members of Netanyahu’s war cabinet favored retaliatory measures in a meeting on Sunday, although the panel differed on the timing and scale of such a response.
Iran launched the attack over suspected Israeli attacks on its embassy compound in Syria on April 1 that killed a top Revolutionary Guard commander and followed months of clashes between Israel and regional ally Iran, sparked by the war in Gaza.
However, an attack of more than 300 missiles and drones, most launched from inside Iran, caused only minor damage to Israel as most were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and with assistance from the US, UK and Jordan.
An Air Force base in southern Israel was hit but remained operational as usual and a 7-year-old child was seriously injured by shrapnel. There were no reports of other serious damage.
Two senior Israeli ministers signaled on Sunday that retaliation by Israel was unlikely and that they would not act alone.
“We will build a regional coalition and determine the impact of Iran in a way and at a time that is convenient for us,” centrist minister Benny Gantz said ahead of a war cabinet meeting.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also said Israel had an opportunity to form a strategic alliance “against the huge threat from Iran which is threatening to put nuclear explosives on these missiles, which could be a very serious threat,” he said. Iran denies seeking to build nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Israel remains vigilant with emergency measures expected to remain in place until Monday evening, including a ban on school activities and restrictions on large gatherings.
“Over the past hours, we approved operational plans for offensive and defensive actions,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said in a televised statement.
Iran’s military chief of staff Major General Mohammad Bagheri said on television, “Our response will be much greater than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran,” and told Washington that its bases could also be attacked if it helped Israel retaliate.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Tehran had informed the US that its attacks on Israel would be limited and in self-defense. In addition, neighboring countries in the region had also been notified of the planned attack 72 hours in advance.
Turkiye diplomatic sources said Iran had informed him beforehand.
Iran said the attack was aimed at punishing “Israeli crimes”, but now “considers the matter closed”.
Russia, China, France and Germany, as well as Arab countries Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, urged restraint.
The leaders of the Group of 7 countries condemned Iran’s attack and said they would work to stabilize the situation, warning in a statement that Tehran risked “uncontrolled regional escalation”.
ESCALATION
Analysts debate how far Iran’s strikes were calibrated to cause real destruction in Israel, or to save face at home after vowing revenge while avoiding a new major war.
So far Iran’s attacks have been calibrated to cause real destruction in Israel, or to save face at home after vowing revenge while avoiding a new major war.
“I think Iran took into consideration the fact that Israel has a very strong multi-layered anti-missile system and they probably considered that there wouldn’t be too many casualties,” said Sima Shine, a former senior Mossad official. at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.
But if Iran hopes for a calm response, like its missile attacks on US troops in Iraq after the killing of Guard commander Qassem Soleimani in 2020, he warned, “I don’t think Israel sees it this way”.
