Ahead of Iranian retaliatory attack, US warns Israel to limit its response
US hopes to revive regional coalition that helped defend Israel against the April attack
Officials in the regional coalition being organized by the United States reportedly informed senior Israeli officials about a potential Israeli response to an Iranian retaliatory attack.
On KAN Reshet Bet’s “This Morning” radio program, it was reported that officials warned Israelis, “Don’t push too hard.” The unnamed officials reportedly to Israeli officials, “Think carefully before attacking back. The ultimate goal is not to lead to all-out war.”
During the previous Iranian attack on Israel in April, the U.S. is believed to have persuaded Israel to avoid a major retaliatory strike, leading to a precise attack on an Iranian military facility near Isfahan instead.
The KAN report noted that some regional officials are concerned about the Israeli response.
Several Western diplomats told KAN that they believe it will be possible to restore the same regional coalition which helped defend Israel in the April attack.
One diplomat said that there is a good chance of cooperation this time, stating: “Everyone has an interest in the incident not escalating into a regional war.”
One concern for the U.S. is that Israel might choose to launch a preemptive strike on Iran to counteract the effectiveness of an impending Iranian attack.
On Monday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed by their national security team on the situation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the U.S. is working to prevent further escalation.
“We are engaged in intense diplomacy, pretty much around the clock, with a very simple message, all parties must refrain from escalation,” Blinken said on Monday. “Escalation is not in anyone’s interest.”
Blinken added, “It's also critical that we break this cycle by reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.”
Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with Blinken and urged the U.S. to pressure Israel to “cease its brinkmanship policies,” according to the news site Ahram Online.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said: “Tehran is not interested in escalating the regional conflicts, but it is necessary to punish Israel.”
Iran has blamed Israel for the assassination of Hamas senior leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week, despite Israel refusing to take responsibility for the attack.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that U.S. officials have observed the movement of Iranian missile launchers and increased military drills since the weekend, suggesting a possible imminent attack.
The U.S. believes Iran may launch an attack within the next 24-48 hours and is concerned about a possible coordinated strike by Iran and Hezbollah aimed at overwhelming Israel's air defense system.
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
