President Biden and his team have advised Israel that its successful defense against Iranian airstrikes on Saturday constituted a strategic victory that may not require further retaliation. Although emotions were running high among Israeli officials, leading to pressure to fire back, the decision ultimately rests with Israel. The interception of nearly all drones and missiles fired against Israel demonstrated its ability to protect itself and its allies, prompting American officials to suggest that further escalation may not be necessary.
Following the Iranian attack, Mr. Biden reiterated the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security. He hinted at a desire for restraint in a statement released after speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing Israel’s ability to defend itself against threats. The president plans to coordinate with the Group of 7 and the United Nations Security Council on a diplomatic response to the attack, in hopes of preventing further escalation in the region.
Conservative lawmakers have called for aggressive military reprisals against Iran, both by Israel and the United States. Criticism of Mr. Biden has emerged for potentially urging Israel to avoid further escalation in the conflict. The recent tensions between Israel and Iran have added strain to the already tense relationship between Mr. Biden and Mr. Netanyahu, with disagreements over American support for Israel in the Gaza conflict just 10 days prior.
American officials were pleased with the success of U.S. and Israeli forces in intercepting the drones and missiles launched by Iran, preventing significant damage. Iran signaled readiness to stand down after the attack and hoped to avoid direct engagement with the United States. Observers noted that Iran had telegraphed its intentions to attack, giving time for defenses to prepare, which may have been a show of force to save face without igniting a full-fledged war with Israel or the U.S.
The situation was compared to the 2020 airstrike ordered by President Trump to kill a top Iranian official, which resulted in Iran firing missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq with relatively little damage. In this case, fears of escalation faded after Iran sent a private message indicating it was done retaliating. Israeli officials remain cautious following the recent attack, indicating the need for vigilance but also acknowledging the successful thwarting of the assault.
With both sides having demonstrated their ability to defend against attacks without suffering significant losses, the argument is made that further military action may be unnecessary at this time. The successful defense of Israel against the Iranian airstrike and the decision on whether to retaliate further ultimately lie with Israel. By highlighting Israel’s capacity to defend itself and the diplomatic responses being coordinated by President Biden, efforts are being made to avoid further escalation in the conflict between Iran and Israel.
