US, Israel split on Iran retaliation
Tehran will be held accountable: Envoy
JERUSALEM: President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the US will not take part in a counter-offensive against Iran, an option Mr Netanyahu’s war cabinet favours after a mass drone and missile attack on Israeli territory, according to officials.
The threat of open warfare erupting between the arch Middle East foes and dragging in the United States put the region on edge, triggering calls for restraint from global powers and Arab nations.
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” United Nations SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres told a Security Council meeting called on Sunday in response to the strikes.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood called on the council to unequivocally condemn Iran’s attack.
“Let me be clear: if Iran or its proxies take actions against the United States or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” he said.
Still, Mr Biden told Mr Netanyahu the US would not participate in any Israeli counter-offensive against Iran over the attack, a White House official said.
US State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke to counterparts including in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan, stressing the need to avoid escalation, the importance of a coordinated diplomatic response, and emphasising the US will continue to support Israel’s defence.
Iran launched the attack over a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in Damascus, Syria, on April 1 that killed top Revolutionary Guards commanders and followed months of clashes between Israel and Iran’s regional allies, triggered by the war in Gaza.
However, the attack by more than 300 missiles and drones caused only modest damage in Israel. Most were shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome defence system and with help from the US, Britain, France and Jordan.
The only serious injury reported within Israel was a seven-year-old who was hurt by shrapnel.
There also was little serious property damage reported. Authorities said an Israeli Air Force base was hit but continued to operate as normal.
“An attack was largely priced in the days leading up to it. Also the limited damage and the fact that there was no loss of life means that maybe Israel’s response will be more measured,” said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING.
“But clearly, there is still plenty of uncertainty and it all depends on how
Israel now responds.”
Israeli officials said Mr Netanyahu’s five-member war cabinet favoured retaliation in a meeting on Sunday, although the panel was divided over the timing and scale of any such response.
Two senior Israeli ministers signalled retaliation was not imminent and that Israel would not act alone.
“We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us,” centrist minister Benny Gantz said ahead of a war cabinet meeting.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also said Israel had an opportunity to form a strategic alliance “against this grave threat by Iran”.
Israel remained on high alert, but authorities lifted some emergency measures that had included a ban on some school activities and caps on large gatherings.
Iranian army chief of staff Maj Gen Mohammad Bagheri said on television, “Our response will be much larger than tonight’s military action if Israel retaliates against Iran”, and told Washington that its bases in the region could also be attacked if it helped Israel retaliate.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran had informed the United States its attack on Israel would be limited and for selfdefence and that regional neighbours had been informed of its planned strikes 72 hours in advance.
Turkish, Jordanian and Iraqi officials said on Sunday that Iran gave wide notice days before the attack, but US officials said Tehran did not warn Washington and was aiming to cause significant damage.
The leaders of the Group of Seven nations condemned Iran’s attack and said they would work to stabilize the situation, warning in a statement that Tehran risked “an uncontrollable regional escalation”.