The officials indicated to Axios that “the Biden administration accepts the idea that Israel will soon launch a major attack on Iran, but it fears that strikes on certain targets will lead to a significant escalation of the regional war.”
A senior Israeli official said current plans were still somewhat more aggressive than the White House would like.
But a US official said we were “moving in the right direction” after Biden and Netanyahu’s call on Wednesday evening, and another US official said the White House became somewhat less nervous about Israel’s plans after the call.
The Israeli official also said that “the gaps between the United States and Israel regarding the nature and scope of the attack have narrowed.”
American officials also noted that “Biden and Netanyahu’s call was the culmination of about two weeks of consultations between the US administration and the Israeli government since Iran launched about 180 missiles at Israel in an attack that was largely thwarted.”
The officials added, “A separate call took place on Wednesday between National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer before the call between Biden and Netanyahu.”
Sullivan and Dermer’s call was the most detailed discussion to date between the United States and Israel regarding Israel’s plans to respond to Iran.
Senior American and Israeli officials said that Biden and Netanyahu emphasized some of the understandings reached by Sullivan and Dermer in their call.
On Thursday evening, the Israeli security cabinet met to receive a briefing on plans to attack Iran and understandings with the Biden administration, according to Israeli officials, and the mini-security cabinet is likely to authorize Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant to determine the timing of the anticipated attack.
American and Israeli officials said that working-level consultations between the United States and Israel regarding the response to Iran continued on Thursday and will continue in the coming days.
Gallant will likely travel to Washington early next week to continue discussions with Sullivan and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Source: Axios
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Analysis: The Looming Israeli-Iran Conflict and the US’s Cautious Approval
Recent reports suggest that Israel is planning a major attack on Iran, with the Biden administration cautiously accepting the idea but expressing concerns about the potential escalation of the regional war. According to Axios, senior Israeli officials have revealed that their plans are still more aggressive than the White House would like, highlighting a delicate balancing act between supporting Israel’s security concerns and avoiding a broader conflict.
The tensions between Israel and Iran have been simmering for years, with recent incidents such as Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel last week [[1]] only increasing the likelihood of military action. The US has been actively helping to defend Israel, with US ships and planes intercepting Iranian missiles and drones bound for Israel [[2]]. Furthermore, as recently reported by the US Department of Defense, US assets in the Mediterranean have helped to defend Israel against Iranian missile attacks [[3]].
Despite this cooperation, the Biden administration is visibly anxious about the potential consequences of Israel’s planned attack on Iran. A US official was quoted as saying that the administration is “moving in the right direction” after a call between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, but this cautious optimism is likely tempered by the knowledge that Israel’s aggressive plans may not align with the US’s preferred approach.
A significant concern for the US is the potential for Iranian retaliation against Israeli targets, which could draw in other regional players and escalate the conflict. The Biden administration’s nightmare scenario is likely one in which Israel’s attack on Iran sparks a wider war, drawing in countries like Lebanon, Syria, and possibly even Russia.
Given these circumstances, it is understandable that the US is urging caution on Israel, even as it acknowledges the legitimacy of Israel’s security concerns. However, for now, it appears that Israel is intent on pursuing its plans, potentially with or without explicit US approval.
the situation is precarious and complex, with multiple actors and interests at play. While the US is unlikely to publicly oppose an Israeli attack on Iran, it is evident that the Biden administration is working to limit the scope and intensity of the conflict, and to prevent a wider regional war.
As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: the coming days and weeks will be a critical test of diplomatic skill and strategic thinking for all parties involved.
