US President Joe Biden has said he does not support any potential Israeli retaliatory strike on Iranian nuclear sites after Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel.
Biden Opposes Israeli Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites Amid Rising Tensions
US President Joe Biden has voiced his opposition to any Israeli military action targeting Iran’s nuclear sites, despite growing tensions between the two countries. The remarks came on Wednesday as Biden toured hurricane damage in North Carolina alongside Vice President Kamala Harris. The tension escalated after Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday, following the deaths of prominent leaders, including Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Iran stated that the missile barrage was a direct response to these killings and the death of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Brigadier-General Abbas Nilforoushan. Israel, in turn, defended itself by saying that most of the missiles were intercepted by its defense systems. However, the exchange marked one of the most significant escalations in the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
As tensions simmer, Israel has also launched a ground assault into Lebanon, aiming to dismantle Hezbollah’s infrastructure in villages near the border. This comes after Israel accused Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran, of being responsible for terrorist activities in the region.
Biden’s comments on the matter were clear. When asked if he would support an Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Biden firmly replied, “The answer is no.” He went on to explain that while the U.S. stands with Israel, there are ongoing discussions about how the country should respond to the Iranian attack. He noted that the U.S. has been in contact with other G7 nations, all of whom agree that Israel has the right to defend itself but should do so in a measured and proportional way.
The U.S. has been actively involved in trying to de-escalate the conflict, leading long-standing negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian armed group based in Gaza. So far, efforts to broker peace have been unsuccessful. Despite the recent missile attack, Biden reiterated that the U.S. military had worked closely with Israel to repel the missiles fired from Iran. In a video message on Tuesday, Biden said that U.S. forces had helped neutralize the Iranian attack, calling it “ineffective” and proof of the coordination between the U.S. and Israel.
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller added weight to Biden’s stance during a briefing, stating that Iran’s actions represented an “unprecedented escalation.” Miller also emphasized that Israel has the right to respond, although discussions about the exact nature of that response are still ongoing.
The Biden administration has yet to outline its views on what a proportional response from Israel might look like. However, it remains clear that the U.S. is keen to avoid any further escalation, particularly one that could involve strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, which would have far-reaching consequences for the region.
For now, the situation remains tense, with both sides closely watching how the other will act next. Biden’s rejection of Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites sends a message of caution, advocating for a more diplomatic resolution to the conflict rather than a military one.
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