US working to constrain Israel's reaction to Iran's attack

The US and its Western allies are working to constrain Israel's reaction to Iran's ballistic missile attack, aiming to prevent a broader regional conflict from escalating.

Washington has affirmed its support for Israel's right to respond militarily to the October 1 attack and is maintaining regular communication with Israeli officials as they strategize their next steps. On October 2, President Joe Biden held discussions with G7 leaders to coordinate sanctions against Tehran in response to the attack and to advise Israel on how to proceed, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.  

“We’ll be discussing with the Israelis what they plan to do... All seven of us agree they have a right to respond, but it should be a proportional response,” Biden told reporters following the call. However, US officials recognize that their influence over Israel may be limited. Israel is considering various options for retaliation against Iran, including strikes on missile launchers or oil infrastructure.

Some Israeli officials have suggested targeting Iran's nuclear facilities, although sources indicate that this is not currently under serious consideration. Biden has also expressed opposition to such an attack. Instead, the US and its Western allies are urging Israel to concentrate on military targets. 

The strikes on October 1, which were a response to Nasrallah’s assassination the previous week, involved a significantly larger number of ballistic missiles than an earlier Iranian attack in April, though only a few penetrated Israel's air defenses. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned that Iran would face “severe consequences” for the strikes, labeling them “defeated and ineffective,” and affirmed that the US would “work with Israel to ensure that remains the case.” However, analysts caution that while Israel has been given the green light to respond, it does not imply a blank check. The objective for the US and its allies is to ensure that Israel's response does not provoke further escalation from Iran. 

By Naila Huseynova