The White House has issued a stern warning to Israel, declaring that the United States will not participate in any retaliatory strikes against Iran, according to senior administration officials.
The announcement comes after a barrage of over 300 drones and missiles targeted Israel overnight. Iran claimed that the attack was in retaliation for a strike on its consulate in Syria on April 1.
Fortunately, the vast majority of these projectiles were intercepted by Israeli, US, and allied forces before they could cause any significant damage.
President Joe Biden reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to carefully consider their response to this unprecedented attack, emphasizing the need for strategic thinking in the face of escalating tensions.
A senior administration official expressed the belief that Israel emerged in a favorable position from the exchange, highlighting the effectiveness of Israeli defenses against the Iranian assault.
The official revealed that nearly all of the missiles, drones, and cruise missiles launched by Iran were successfully intercepted, underscoring Israeli military superiority in the region.
Furthermore, US aircraft and naval vessels played a crucial role in neutralizing Iranian threats, downing dozens of projectiles, including drones and ballistic missiles.
In the aftermath of the attack, President Biden engaged in a discussion with Prime Minister Netanyahu, emphasizing the importance of deliberation and caution in responding to the situation.
While the White House refrained from explicitly cautioning against a significant retaliatory response, they underscored that such decisions ultimately rest with Israeli leadership.
Amidst mounting tensions, US officials have reiterated their commitment to defending Israel but have categorically ruled out direct involvement in any Israeli response to Iran.
This stance has elicited criticism from some quarters, with Republican Representative Mike Turner and former National Security Advisor John Bolton calling for a more assertive approach, including potential US participation in retaliatory strikes against Iran’s nuclear program.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the Iranian attack, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has pledged renewed efforts to pass military aid for Israel, a move previously hindered by debates over the inclusion of assistance for Taiwan and Ukraine.
editor
Just a reminder this latest round of ramped up tensions in the middle east was caused by Israel attacking directly a embassy building which is against International Law which given their track record doesn’t mean much to them as they ignore International Law on a regular basis and of course the USA turns a blind eye. What sleepy Joe should be saying is, “you attacked a embassy of Iran in Syria what exactly did you expect, out of 300 missiles not one person was killed, leave it at that”! Of course the maniac currently running things over in Tel Aviv will do anything to draw the USA into the conflict, the Saturday episode cost upwards of $1BILLION generously donated by the American tax payer and against their own laws, compared to 300 cheaply made rockets and drones that took 2 hours to get there. Interestingly Lord David Cameron ex British PM now trooping around the globe as Foreign Secretary when asked if the UK would respond if another country bombed one of the UK Embassies replied “Yes Very Strongly”