Axios is reporting President Biden told Netanyahu in a phone call on Saturday evening that the U.S. will neither support nor participate in any counterattack against Iran.
With both Israel and the U.S. having intercepted 99% of the drones and missiles and with only one casualty, the precision of the defense against Iran’s retaliation for Israel’s strike on the Iranian consulate was almost miraculous.
- "You got a win. Take the win," Biden told Netanyahu, according to the official.
- The official said that when Biden told Netanyahu that the U.S. will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran and will not support such operations, Netanyahu said he understood.
It’s been widely reported that Biden was strongly against Israel striking the Iranian consulate and that the White House felt it was a bewildering decision, given that a response by Iran would be guaranteed. Concerned now that Netanyahu is trying to pull the U.S. into direct conflict with Iran, the call was a clear indication that the U.S. is not going to allow that to happen.
Late Saturday evening, prior to Biden’s call, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Israel’s war cabinet had, insanely, already approved a “powerful response on Iranian soil” — however, following Biden’s call to Netanyahu, Israel hasn’t done it. Yet.
Telling Netanyahu, in no uncertain terms, that the U.S. won’t support a counterattack could be a strong and effective deterrent — if Netanyahu and the IDF haven’t completely lost their minds.
In the meantime, President Biden will be holding a call on Sunday with G7 leaders in order to plan a diplomatic response to Saturday’s actions by Iran.