President Biden has reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US will oppose any Israeli counterattack against Iran.
A senior White House official told Axios that Biden and his advisers are concerned an Israeli response to the Iran attack will lead to a greater war in the region.
The official told the outlet that Biden made it clear to Netanyahu that US forces would not participate in any further operations, Netanyahu said he understood.
President Biden is said to have told the Israeli Prime Minister: ‘You got a win. Take the win.’
Three senior administration officials have also told NBC News that Biden had privately expressed concern that Netanyahu is trying to pull the US into the conflict.
The White House believes the Israelis are not looking for a direct war with Iran but US officials can’t be certain, an official told the outlet.
The comments were made by Biden during a phone call between the two leaders after Iran unleashed a drone and missile attack on Israel.
The comments were made by Biden during a phone call between the two leaders. Netanyahu is seen her on the phone to Biden
Biden walks to the Oval Office after returning to Washington a day early to consult with his national security team about the Iranian strikes against Israel
President Biden, along with members of his national security team, receive an update on an ongoing airborne attack on Israel from Iran, as they meet in the Situation Room of the White House
The two spoke shortly after Netanyahu finished a meeting with ministers in his cabinet, pictured here, according to a statement from his office
President Biden released a statement following the call between the two leaders saying it had reaffirmed America’s ‘ironclad commitment to the security of Israel’.
Biden added that Israel had demonstrated a ‘remarkable capacity’ in defending itself against the attacks that where launched by Iran on Saturday.
The two spoke shortly after Netanyahu finished a meeting with ministers in his cabinet, according to a statement from his office.
Iran had sent the salvo of missiles in response to a drone strike at the beginning of April in Syria that killed 12 Iranians, including two top generals.
President Biden said that US forces had played a part in taking down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.
His full statement said: ‘Earlier today, Iran—and its proxies operating out of Yemen, Syria and Iraq—launched an unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. I condemn these attacks in the strongest possible terms.
‘At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the U.S. military moved aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the course of the past week.
‘Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our servicemembers, we helped Israel take down nearly all of the incoming drones and missiles.
‘I’ve just spoken with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm America’s ironclad commitment to the security of Israel.
‘I told him that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks – sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel.
Objects are seen in the sky above Jerusalem after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel
‘Tomorrow, I will convene my fellow G7 leaders to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.
‘My team will engage with their counterparts across the region. And we will stay in close touch with Israel’s leaders.
‘And while we have not seen attacks on our forces or facilities today, we will remain vigilant to all threats and will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect our people.’
The Iranian foreign ministry released a statement saying the strikes 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 Israeli’s ‘recurring military aggressions’, including the strike on Iran’s diplomatic building in Syria at the start of the month.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also issued a warning to the US saying any act from America would see a ‘reciprocal’ response.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seen here in early April, vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility
Iran had threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria, which Tehran say was an Israeli airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.
The April 1 attack destroyed Iran’s consulate building in the city and killed seven Revolutionary Guards, including the two generals.
As well as drones being intercepted, the US has sent the war ship Bataan as well as two support ships with 2,500 Marines onboard into the Eastern Mediterranean.
US Congressional sources say the amphibious war 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 onboard.
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 they too are under orders to shoot down any Israeli bound missiles or drones.
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