Biden warns Netanyahu, US will NOT support Israel’s counterattack on Iran over fear of full-scale war: President tells PM in late-night call ‘you have a victory, take the victory’ after IDF shoots down ‘almost all’ incoming drones and missiles down
President Biden has reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the United States will oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran.
This was reported by a senior official in the White House Axios that Biden and his advisers are concerned that an Israeli response to the Iran attack will lead to a major war in the region.
The official told the broadcast that Biden made it clear to Netanyahu that U.S. forces would not participate in further operations, Netanyahu said he understood.
President Biden is said to have told the Israeli prime minister: ‘You got a victory. Take the victory.’
Three senior officials in the administration have also told NBC News that Biden had privately expressed concern that Netanyahu is trying to draw the United States into the conflict.
The White House believes the Israelis are not looking for an outright war with Iran, but U.S. officials cannot be sure, an official told the newspaper.
The comments were made by Biden during a phone call between the two leaders after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel.
The comments were made by Biden during a phone call between the two leaders. Netanyahu is seen on the phone to Biden
Biden heads to the Oval Office after returning to Washington a day early to confer with his national security team on the Iranian attacks on Israel
President Biden and members of his national security team receive an update on an ongoing airborne attack on Israel from Iran as they meet in the White House Situation Room
The two spoke shortly after Netanyahu wrapped up a meeting with his cabinet ministers, pictured here, according to a statement from his office
President Biden released a statement after the call between the two leaders, saying it reaffirmed America’s “iron-clad commitment to Israel’s security.”
Biden added that Israel had demonstrated a “remarkable capacity” to defend itself against the attacks launched by Iran on Saturday.
The two spoke shortly after Netanyahu wrapped up a meeting with his cabinet ministers, according to a statement from his office.
Iran had sent a volley of missiles in response to a drone strike in early April in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.
President Biden said US forces had played a role in bringing down almost all of the incoming drones and missiles.
His full statement said: ‘Earlier today, Iran – and its proxies operating from Yemen, Syria and Iraq – launched an unprecedented air strike against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.
‘At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the US military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the past week.
‘Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our service members, we helped Israel destroy almost all of the incoming drones and missiles.
‘I have just spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to Israel’s security.
‘I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend itself against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its enemies that they cannot effectively threaten Israel’s security.
Objects are seen in the sky over Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel
‘Tomorrow I will convene my G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.
‘My team will engage with their colleagues across the region. And we will keep in close contact with Israel’s leaders.
“And while we have not seen any attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant against all threats and will not hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect our people.”
Iran’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying the attacks carried out were in “exercise of its inherent right of self-defense”.
It said: ‘The Islamic Republic of Iran would not hesitate to take further necessary defensive measures to protect its legitimate interests against any act of military aggression or unlawful use of force.’
The ministry said it was responding to Israel’s “recurring military aggressions”, including the attack on Iran’s diplomatic building in Syria at the beginning of the month.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also issued a warning to the US, saying any action by America would be met with a “reciprocal” response.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seen here in early April, vowed retaliation in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to claim responsibility
Iran had threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria that Tehran says was an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retaliation in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to claim responsibility.
The April 1 attack destroyed Iran’s consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.
In addition to drones being intercepted, the US has sent the warship Bataan and two support ships with 2,500 marines on board into the eastern Mediterranean.
US congressional sources say the amphibious assault ship Bataan is leading a US naval task force in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Bataan has two support ships and together they have about 2,500 Marines on board.
The US also has several guided missile destroyers, including the Carney, in the area.
In addition, the US has two destroyers and a cruiser in the Red Sea that are fully armed with anti-missile weapons and are also under orders to shoot down Israeli missiles or drones.