In response to an Israeli assault on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria that resulted in the deaths of many senior Iranian military leaders, Iran launched an offensive on Saturday using hundreds of missiles and drones. The assault was also supported by proxy militias in Iraq and Yemen that are affiliated with Iran.
U.S., Israeli, and Jordanian forces, among others, worked together to intercept the missiles.
President Joe Biden has warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would not join an aggressive counter-strike on Iran if Israel takes that course after Tehran’s assault this weekend.
The Biden administration is attempting to defuse a potentially explosive situation to prevent a full-scale conflict between the United States and the Middle East. The extent to which Netanyahu would cave into domestic political pressures is unclear; he has always seen Tehran as an Israeli adversary deserving of severe treatment.
Many high-ranking officials, including Biden, Blinken, and Austin, publicly denounced Iran’s attack and vowed unwavering support for Israel. Nevertheless, it was implied that Washington is opposed to escalating the situation. It has long been Biden’s favorite method of governing the area, and he said he will meet with other G7 leaders on Sunday to discuss a diplomatic response to Iran.
The decision by Iran to attack Israeli territory directly, rather than via intermediaries or covert methods, in response to Israel’s attack on its commanders marked a new chapter in the long-running animosity between the two nations. To avoid starting a more significant regional conflict, American officials hoped that Tehran might salvage face by limiting the scope of the strike, which they saw as heavily anticipated.
U.S. military forces shot down dozens of missiles and drones, providing massive defensive military assistance to Israel. This might serve as a deterrent to Iran.
