Biden Administration Secures Assurances from Israel Amidst Middle East Tensions
The Biden administration has received assurances from Israel that it will refrain from targeting Iranian nuclear or oil facilities in any retaliatory strikes, according to two US officials, The Associated Press reports.
This comes as the region braces for a potential Israeli response following a barrage of Iranian missiles launched earlier this month.
The administration believes that the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and roughly 100 soldiers to operate it in Israel has helped to ease some of Israel’s concerns regarding Iranian retaliation and overall security. The Pentagon announced the THAAD deployment last Sunday, stating it was authorized by President Joe Biden.
However, the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss confidential diplomatic conversations, cautioned that Israel’s assurances are not absolute and circumstances could change. They also noted that Israel’s history of fulfilling pledges is mixed, often influenced by domestic politics that can disrupt Washington’s expectations.
The officials cited the recent example of Israel’s airstrike in Lebanon that killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, despite assurances from Israeli officials that a US- and French-led ceasefire would be welcomed. Netanyahu’s office has stated that “we listen to the opinions of the United States, but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests.”
Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have issued a letter to their Israeli counterparts, warning that Israel must increase humanitarian aid flow into Gaza within the next 30 days or risk losing access to U.S. weapons funding.
The escalating conflict in the Middle East has raised fears of a wider regional war, with Israel’s offensive against Hamas in Gaza expanding into a ground invasion of Lebanon. Biden has stated he would not support an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear sites and urged Israel to consider alternatives to hitting Iran’s oil sector, citing potential global market disruptions and rising fuel prices ahead of the US presidential election.
The war has also sparked a deep divide within the Democratic party, with Vice President Kamala Harris failing to secure the usual endorsement from a political action group of Arab American leaders.
