U.S. officials informed of the situation said that President Joe Biden and senior members of his national security team have informed their counterparts that the United States will not take part in offensive actions against Iran in order to prevent a broader regional conflict that could ensue from Iran’s missile and drone barrage intended toward Israel.
Biden attempted to portray Israel’s effective interception of the Iranian onslaught as a significant triumph in his chat with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late Saturday. He implied that further Israeli action was superfluous.
According to a senior administration official, Biden informed the Israeli prime minister during their phone chat that Saturday should be seen as a victory, since Iran’s attacks had been mostly failed and proved Israel’s superior military might. A senior US military official said that the US determined there was “no significant damage within Israel itself.”
On Sunday, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stated that the ability to avoid extensive damage proved Iran’s lack of military might and Israel’s “military superiority.”
During an appearance on “State of the Union,” Kirby said AWN’s Jake Tapper, “This was an incredible success, really proving Israel’s military superiority and, just as critically, their diplomatic superiority. That they have friends in the region and around the world that are willing to help them.”
Another US official confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had requested that Israeli Minister Yoav Gallant inform the US in advance of any possible retaliation to the Iranian attack.
While American officials have emphasized to their counterparts that Israel has the last say on how to respond to Iran, Biden has worked to keep the issue from getting any worse.
Biden convened a meeting of the Group of Seven leaders on Sunday to deliberate a “united diplomatic response” that would limit the likelihood of a broader war through non-military means.
After the virtual summit, the G7 members issued a joint statement denouncing Iran’s “direct and unprecedented attack” on Israel and expressing their “full solidarity and support to Israel and its people and reaffirm our commitment towards its security.” The statement criticized Iran’s actions “in the strongest terms.”
The Iranian government’s recent moves have contributed to regional instability and put the region on the brink of an unstoppable escalation. The G7 declaration emphasized the need of preventing this.
A senior administration official went on to say that the meeting of leaders and their conversation regarding Iran were “constructive” and that they continued to back Israel.
For the defense of Israel, we shall not waver. We have no interest in participating in their response in any way. According to the senior administration official, that’s a policy that is consistently followed.
The question of whether Netanyahu follows Biden’s counsel is yet unanswered. Tensions between the men were already high due to the conflict in Gaza when the Iranians retaliated. It was clear throughout that battle how little sway the United States really had on Israeli policymaking.
“We are not seeking a significant escalation with Iran,” Israel informed the US, according to a senior Biden administration official who made the announcement on Sunday.
“We do have to think carefully and strategically about risks of escalation,” the senior administration source said, adding that “the president was very clear that we’re going to help defend Israel.” It was also made very plain to the prime minister last night.
The decision by Iran to launch missiles against Israel from its own land has intensified the long-simmering animosity between the two nations. Some sort of reaction is likely to be prompted by political pressure within Israel.
Although this was the first strike ever launched from Iranian territory against Israel, Kirby insisted it need not spark a wider regional conflict.
He told Tapper, “We don’t believe it is nor do we believe it has to be.” He went on to say that the US and Israel knew exactly what Iran was doing all along.
The confrontation with Iran is “not over yet,” Gallant said on Sunday. During a meeting of Israel’s war council, the country’s reaction options will likely be considered in detail.
A “new equation” has been created, according to Hossein Salami, Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who warned that Tehran would respond immediately if Israel retaliates.
The Situation Room: a place of high tension
On Saturday, Biden and his national security staff met in the White House Situation Room for “real-time updates” on Iran’s attack against Israel, which caused “tense moments” at times.
At one point, tensions were high because Israel was within striking distance of more than a hundred ballistic missiles in the sky.
Until everything was said and done, the outcomes of the defenses were, naturally, uncertain. The top administration official expressed some comfort when they received the results of the defenses, which proved that their preparations and planning had been successful.
US authorities have been highlighting the continuous preparations in anticipation of Iran’s attack, which has been anticipated since earlier this month, when an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria was reported to have been struck by Israel.
The senior administration source stated that preparations for Saturday’s attack began “nearly two weeks ago” and included a number of steps, including a change to the force posture and continuing consultations with Israelis and other regional partners.
Biden reached out to Netanyahu after the White House assessed that Saturday’s attack was mostly unsuccessful.
According to officials, Biden has still been regularly updated. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, and Mideast coordinator Brett McGurk were among the experts who the president summoned to the Situation Room once again on Sunday morning.