US President Joe Biden is advising Israel to respond proportionally to the recent barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles. He is urging against a potential strike on Iran's nuclear sites in an effort to prevent further escalation of the conflict in the region.
American officials are reportedly not pushing Israel to refrain from retaliating, marking a shift from previous interactions. In April, Biden had encouraged Israel to 'take the win' after successfully intercepting Iranian drones and missiles.
Instead, Biden is hoping that Israel will opt for a measured response that asserts its right to retaliate while avoiding actions that could trigger more aggression and lead to a full-scale war in the region.
One senior administration official emphasized that the message is not to refrain from responding but to do so in a cautious manner without seeking a decisive victory.
It remains to be seen how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will receive this message, especially given his recent success in weakening Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The current situation is critical, with Biden closely monitoring the escalating tensions in the region. Efforts to broker ceasefires in Gaza and along the Israel-Lebanon border have not yielded significant results. The upcoming American presidential election has added pressure to effectively manage the crisis.
