Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday sharply criticized President Biden's administration, saying strongly that Israel, not the United States, will decide how best to retaliate against Iran's recent aggression.
Biden administration officials called on Israel to show restraint against both Iran and the terrorist proxy group Hezbollah, which operates in Lebanon. Netanyahu's government has been considering action against Iran since the country fired about 200 missiles into Israeli territory on October 1.
“We will listen to the views of the United States, but the final decision will be based on national interests,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the statement following a report in the Washington Post in which President Biden claimed that he believed Netanyahu was now in a “more moderate position” than in recent weeks.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would consider the US' concerns but ultimately make its own decision. (Ohad Zwigenberg/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
But White House officials said Israel assured the United States it would not target Iranian oil or nuclear facilities. The agreement came after Biden and Netanyahu spoke by phone last week and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Israeli officials this week, according to the Wall Street Journal.
White House National Security Advisor jake sullivan He reportedly told Israeli officials earlier this month that the United States expects “clarity and transparency” about Israel's plans, particularly to retaliate against Iran for recent missile attacks.
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Map of known Iranian nuclear facilities.
vice president Kamala Harris wouldn't say that either. In an interview last week, he was asked whether he thought the regime had influence over Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Nevertheless, Biden this week authorized the Pentagon to send an advanced missile defense system to Israel and about 100 American troops to operate it.
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) had previously deployed to Israel in 2019, but only for exercises, Pentagon officials said. The system will help strengthen Israel's defenses against more advanced missiles in Iran's arsenal.
The THAAD system is shown installed on a C-17 Globemaster III of the 4th Airlift Squadron at Fort Bliss, Texas in February 2019. (Sergeant Corey D. Payne/U.S. Air Force/Associated Press)
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“The THAAD battery will augment Israel's integrated air defense system. This action underscores the United States' unwavering commitment to Israel's defense and to protecting Americans in Israel from further ballistic missile attacks by Iran. “This is part of a broader coordination effort in recent months by the U.S. military to support the defense of Israel and protect Americans from attacks by Iran and Iranian-aligned militias,” the Pentagon said in a statement. said.
