Biden treads fine line on Iran as Israel's Gallant heads to Washington
The Pentagon likened the current crisis in the Middle East to that in Europe prior to the First World War, as the Biden administration seeks to restrain an Israeli counterattack against Iran.
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is treading a fine line in sustaining its support for Israel while the Biden administration seeks to restrain Israeli leaders from launching a retaliatory attack that could escalate toward a wider regional conflict with Iran.
Pentagon officials led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin continued to engage with their Israeli counterparts over the weekend as Washington sought clarity on what sort of retaliation Israeli leaders may authorize in response to Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile barrage targeting military bases in their country.
Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant heads to Washington on Wednesday to further those discussions in meetings at the Pentagon.
Last week, President Joe Biden publicly ruled out supporting any potential Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, an option that Israel’s current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed American leaders for in the past.
