The United States is reportedly urging Israel to exercise caution while responding to Iran‘s recent escalation of launching approximately 200 ballistic missiles on Tuesday night.
During consultations following Iran’s missile launch, US President Joe Biden and G7 leaders have stressed the importance of a “proportionate” response. Biden said, “All seven of us agree that they have a right to respond, but they should respond in proportion.”
The US has cautioned Israel against targeting Tehran’s nuclear facilities, warning that such actions could escalate regional instability.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has discussed this position with his counterparts from France, Britain, Germany, and Italy with Washington being deeply concerned about the potential for further escalation in the Middle East.
While former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has advocated for a decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear sites to “fatally cripple this terrorist regime,” the US favors avoiding an all-out regional war. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reiterated, “Israel has a right to respond… but we don’t want to see any action that would lead to a full-blown regional war.”
Israel recently conducted a deadly airstrike on a Hezbollah rescue facility in central Beirut on Thursday, resulting in at least six fatalities, as reported by AFP citing Lebanese sources. The death toll of Israeli soldiers in the latest Hezbollah-Israel conflict has risen to 8.
Hezbollah has claimed that it forced Israeli soldiers to withdraw and attacked an Israeli unit with explosives. It also asserted that it used rockets to destroy three Merkava tanks as they approached Maroun al-Ras village.
Although Biden mentioned ongoing talks with Netanyahu’s team, the White House has not yet initiated direct communication between the two leaders regarding this matter.