President Biden's phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday discussed Jerusalem's pending response to last week's Iranian attack, but details are still limited.
A readout of the call noted Biden's “unwavering commitment to Israel's security,” adding that Biden “unequivocally condemned Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1.”
Asked about the details of the call, Vice President Kamala Harris, who was present on the call ahead of the reading, said she could not discuss “private diplomatic conversations,” calling it an “important meeting.” he told CNN.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also declined to provide further details, saying the two sides “continue to discuss responses to the Iranian attack” and that it was a “frank and honest conversation.”
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes notes during a phone conversation with President Biden on Wednesday. (Israel Prime Minister's Office)
After the attack by Tehran, which helped the US defend Israel from more than 180 missiles fired at Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed to make Iran pay a “price” and what a counterattack would look like It immediately sparked speculation.
No casualties were reported in Israel, but one Palestinian was killed in the West Bank, with Biden insisting there should be nothing more than a “proportionate” response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There is.
But speculation is growing about the types of attacks Israel could launch against Iran, with security analysts predicting that it could expand from attacks on infrastructure critical to the Iranian regime, such as military sites, refineries and ports. It has begun considering attack options, including attacking Iran. Nuclear development program.
According to an assessment by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), Iran has more than a dozen nuclear facilities across the country, including uranium mines, fuel enrichment plants, nuclear reactors and heavy water production plants, and several weaponization facilities. There is. All of them could be in Israel's crosshairs.
President Biden (right) speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 25, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
However, the United States has warned the Israeli prime minister not to attack Iran's nuclear or oil facilities, fearing it could spark a regional war.
After Iran fired some 300 missiles and drones at Israel in April, Jerusalem responded to Western calls for restraint and attacked Iranian air defenses, including part of the S-300 long-range air defense system. destroyed.
Numerous rockets are seen fired from Iran over Jerusalem from Hebron in the West Bank on October 1, 2024. The Israeli military announced that missiles were fired from Iran toward Israel, and sirens could be heard across the country, especially in Tel Aviv. (Wissam Hashramoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But what was a seemingly modest precision strike compared to Iran's missile launches came after Israel successfully struck one of Iran's most coveted defense systems strategically located between its nuclear facilities. It is likely that this sent a big message to Tehran.
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As Israel considers a retaliatory strike, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies analyzed where Iran's nuclear infrastructure is located. (Image provided by: Democracy Defense Foundation)
The S-300 system was permanently stationed at Isfahan Air Base, just 90 miles south of the Natanz enrichment plant and less than 16 miles north of the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. These two facilities are likely the core of Iran's nuclear program. According to the report By the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
But even given the significance of the previous attack, and even as Israel continues to clash with its biggest ally, the United States, one expert said Jerusalem's response this time was more “public.” I doubt it will become a thing.
Benam, an expert on Iran-Israel security issues and a senior fellow at FDD, said, It is unclear whether they will choose to counterattack.” Ben Tabur told FOX News Digital.
“But what seems certain is that Israel intends to strike back, and is likely to do so in a much bigger way and in a more public way than it did in April,” he said, adding that Israel intends to strike back and is likely to strike back in a more public way than it did in April. It added that there is still a high possibility that it will target the country's air and missile defense capabilities.
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As Israel considers retaliatory strikes, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies analyzed where Iran's military targets are located. (Image provided by: Democracy Defense Foundation)
Tensions between the United States and Israel have been brewing in recent months over growing concerns about the civilian death toll in the Gaza Strip, with reports last month claiming that Israel had carried out a paging operation against Hezbollah in late September. It is said that the matter was kept secret from the United States. Thirty terrorists were killed and 3,000 others injured.
Additionally, although Washington has fiercely warned Israel against a ground invasion of Lebanon, Jerusalem has ignored international calls for a de-escalation of the fighting, forcing 60,000 citizens to flee their homes near the border. He argued that operations against Hezbollah were necessary to ensure the safe return of the United States.
Despite US opposition to a ground invasion of Lebanon, the US has increased its military presence in the region to better protect Israel ahead of an Iranian attack.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a press conference in Tehran, Iran, September 16, 2024. (WANA/Majid Asgaripour, via Reuters)
The question of how the United States would support or respond to an Israeli attack on Iran remains unclear, as does what kind of retaliatory strikes Jerusalem might mount against Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued an ominous warning to Iran on Wednesday, saying: “Our attacks will be powerful, precise and above all surprising. I can't understand what happened.''
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Ben Taleburu said Israel's future decisions about what to attack will “significantly signal to analysts whether Israel envisions this as an operation and not an operation,” and that the Biden administration will likely strike back. It also serves as an indicator of the extent of involvement. .
“My guess is that Israeli military planners are likely seeking options that will allow them to inflict as much damage as possible while keeping the United States involved,” he said. Ta. “However, Israel's ability to signal the vulnerability of Tehran's nuclear weapons program through other, more creative means should not be discounted.”
