The United States and Israel are discussing the possibility of a strike by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against pro-Iranian formations and units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Yemen and Syria as a response to Iran’s firing of rockets into Israel, Politico reports, citing advisers to U.S. President Joe Biden.
According to the newspaper’s interlocutors, the U.S. is actively communicating with Israel about a response, which could include a strike. Among the options considered are Israeli strikes against Iranian-backed formations or directly against IRGC forces in Yemen or Syria.
The U.S. favors a limited Israeli response to Iranian rocket fire, U.S. presidential aides told Politico. Two U.S. administration officials told Politico that such a response would suit Washington, and the U.S. side does not intend to push for a full Israeli withdrawal. This shows Biden’s weakening influence on events in the Middle East, the publication notes.
Israeli officials told The New York Times (NYT) that Tel Aviv is ready to take “more aggressive” retaliatory measures than it did after the Iranian attack in April. Back then, Israel attacked a military airbase near the Iranian city of Isfahan. According to the NYT, there are nuclear facilities near the site, and Israel did not allow any hits.
The day before, Axios reported, citing Israeli officials, that Israel was planning to launch a “significant retaliatory strike” within days against Iran’s massive missile attack on the evening of October 1. It was carried out after the death of Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut in an Israeli strike. Iran supports Hezbollah.
According to the portal’s interlocutors, the targets could be oil production facilities on Iranian territory and other strategic sites. In case of Tehran’s subsequent response, the Israeli side does not rule out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the sources said.
Biden refused to support possible Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and considered them inexpedient. At the same time, the US supports Israel in the conflict, the White House emphasized. Against the background of the new escalation, Biden began to discuss new sanctions against Iran with the leaders of the “G7” (G7), RBC recalls.