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Israel-Iran War
Israel-Iran War

Biden asserts that Israel is entitled to retaliate against Iran; however, he stipulates a significant condition

October 2, 2024

United States President Joe Biden expressed his opposition on Wednesday to Israel conducting strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in response to a recent ballistic missile attack from Iran, as reported by the Times of Israel. While he recognized Israel’s right to defend itself, Biden stressed that any response must be “proportional.”

Additionally, Biden confirmed that sanctions would be imposed on Iran, noting that this issue was discussed during a call earlier that day with the leaders of the G7 nations. “We will be in discussions with the Israelis regarding their course of action, but all seven of us concur that while they have the right to respond, it should be done in a proportional manner,” Biden reportedly stated to reporters prior to boarding Air Force One. Reports indicate that Israel is considering a strike on Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities as a countermeasure to the missile barrage, which saw nearly 200 ballistic missiles launched by Iran towards Israel on Tuesday.
The attack forced a significant portion of the nation to seek refuge in bomb shelters, leading to extensive destruction. Nevertheless, in spite of the magnitude of the assault, only one death was reported — that of a Palestinian man in the West Bank. In the aftermath of the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that Iran had committed “a grave error” and would “face consequences.”
In Washington, during a press conference, President Biden reaffirmed his request for Israel to take action in a “proportional” manner. When questioned about his stance on a potential strike against Iranian nuclear sites, Biden unequivocally stated, “The answer is no.”

Following the Iranian attack, the Israeli Cabinet convened on Tuesday evening and decided to respond decisively; however, they chose to first consult with Washington, as reported by local media. According to Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, diplomatic sources suggested that Israel’s response would be calibrated to avoid escalating into a regional conflict, taking into account the forthcoming US presidential election as a significant consideration.
Following the G7 summit, the White House declared that President Biden had facilitated the coordinated international implementation of new sanctions against Iran. Additionally, it was emphasized that the G7 “unequivocally condemned Iran’s assault.”

In a related development, The Times of Israel reported that the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Lt Gen Herzi Halevi, remarked on Wednesday that Israel would take action in response to Iran’s missile strike, asserting that the Israeli military possesses the capability to “reach and strike any point in the Middle East.”

Halevi further stated, “We will respond; we know how to identify significant targets; we are adept at striking with precision and strength.”
In the United States, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed that the Biden administration seeks to synchronize its stance with Israel regarding any response to Iran’s aggression. He also recognized that the situation in the Middle East is precarious and cautioned that a wider escalation could threaten the interests of both Israel and the United States.

During a virtual event hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank based in Washington, Campbell reaffirmed the US perspective that Iran’s conduct necessitated a “return message.”

Further emphasizing the US’s strong condemnation of the Iranian attack, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the United Nations, remarked during a briefing at the UN Security Council on Wednesday, “The Iranian regime will be held accountable for its actions.” She added, “We strongly caution against Iran—or its proxies—taking any actions against the United States or further actions against Israel.”
On Tuesday, Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, cautioned Iran about the potential for “severe consequences” following its recent attack, affirming that the United States would collaborate with Israel to address the situation, although he refrained from providing specific details.

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon stated, “The time for mere calls for de-escalation has passed.” He emphasized, “This issue transcends mere rhetoric,” asserting that “Iran poses a tangible and immediate threat to global security, and if not curtailed, the next barrage of missiles will not be directed solely at Israel.”

Prior to Danon’s remarks, Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani defended Iran’s missile strike as a necessary action to “restore balance” in response to a series of Israeli assaults on Iran’s regional allies. “Every act of restraint from Iran has only encouraged Israel to perpetrate greater offenses and acts of aggression,” Iravani remarked, asserting that Iran’s response was essential for re-establishing balance and deterrence.

Iran has indicated that the missile strike on Tuesday, its second direct assault on Israel, was a retaliatory measure for the deaths of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps General Abbas Nilforoushan, both of whom were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut the previous week. Iran also referenced Ismail Haniyeh, a senior Hamas leader, who was assassinated in Tehran in July in what is believed to be an Israeli operation.

In the meantime, Russia’s UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, praised Iran for its “exceptional” restraint in recent months, contending that the missile attack on Israel could not be viewed in isolation.

The missile attack on Tuesday resulted in the death of a Palestinian man in the West Bank and injuries to two Israelis, with damage reported to buildings across various locations in Israel. On Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces acknowledged that some Iranian missiles had impacted its airbases but characterized the effects as “ineffective.”
During a press conference held in Qatar on Wednesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Tehran is “not seeking war,” while also indicating that a more robust response would be forthcoming if Israel were to retaliate against the missile assault.

On the night of April 13-14, Iran executed its inaugural direct strike on Israel, deploying over 300 drones and missiles, the majority of which were intercepted by Israel and its allies, particularly the United States. This action was a reaction to an alleged Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic facility in Damascus that occurred on April 1.

Additionally, Shiite militias affiliated with Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” have launched attacks on Israel from both Iraq and Yemen, alongside Hezbollah in Lebanon. These hostilities escalated following the outbreak of war in Gaza, which commenced when Hamas-led militants invaded southern Israel on October 7, resulting in nearly 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of 251 hostages. Hamas, a Sunni Palestinian militant organization, is also a member of the Axis of Resistance.

In the meantime, as the threat of a broader regional conflict looms, the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Nearly a year of Israeli military operations in Gaza has led to the deaths of over 41,500 individuals, with close to 100,000 injured, and thousands more unaccounted for beneath the debris of collapsed structures.

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