Israeli War Cabinet meets
USA does not want “escalation” or “war” with Iran
April 14, 2024, 4:31 p.m
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After Iran’s attack on Israel with 300 drones and missiles, a White House spokesman stressed that the US was not looking for “a major war with Iran.” Meanwhile, Israel’s war cabinet meets to find its answer.
According to its own statements, the USA does not want an “escalation” or “war” with Iran. “We don’t want any escalation. We’re not looking for a major war with Iran,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told NBC. At the same time, he made it clear that the US was “vigilant” about possible Iranian threats against US soldiers in the region.
US President Joe Biden had previously condemned the “brazen” Iranian attack “in the strongest possible terms”. At the same time, he once again assured Israel of the US’s “unwavering” support, although, according to observers, it appeared as if Biden wanted to prevent the ally from launching a military retaliation. The US President also spoke on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to a report by the news site Axios and the New York Times, the US President made it clear that he rejected an Israeli counterattack. CNN reported, citing a senior government official, that Biden had told Netanyahu that the United States would not take part in “offensive operations against Iran.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s war cabinet was due to meet on Sunday to discuss how to proceed. Before the War Cabinet meeting, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in an interview with Army Radio: “We said: If Iran attacks Israel, we will attack in Iran. And that commitment is still valid.” An army spokesman announced: “We will respond to Iran with actions, not words.”
During the night, Iran directly attacked Israel from its territory for the first time in history. According to Israeli data, almost all of the 300 drones and missiles fired by Iran were repelled. It remains unclear whether and how Israel wants to react.