The White House on Friday said it was informed beforehand about Israel‘s retaliatory strikes to Iran’s ballistic missile attack earlier this month. It also added that the Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran are an “exercise of self-defense”.
President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were briefed on Israel’s retaliatory strikes against military targets in Iran and are monitoring the developments closely, the White House said in a statement.
Israel on Saturday launched air strikes targeting military sites in Iran in response to “relentless attacks” from Iran and its proxies since October 7. Multiple powerful explosions were heard in Tehran, and the neighboring city of Karaj.
Responding to the strikes by Israel, White House National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett said the “targeted strikes on military targets” are “an exercise of self-defense and in response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack against Israel on October 1.”
The United States was “informed beforehand and there is no US involvement,” a US defense official was quoted as telling AFP. However, the official refrained from saying how far in advance the information was known and communicate to the US.
The recent escalation follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s return to the United States after a tour of the Middle East. During his visit, he and other American officials urged Israel to avoid responses that could worsen regional tensions, specifically advising against any strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
The region remains tense, awaiting potential Israeli retaliation after Iran’s ballistic missile strike on Israel on October 1, in which approximately 200 missiles were launched—marking Iran’s second direct attack on Israel within six months. Iran claimed these strikes targeted Israeli military installations, coming after Israel eliminated senior leaders of Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in Lebanon.
Hezbollah has since joined forces with Hamas, the Gaza-based Palestinian militant organization aligned with Iran, following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
“In response to months of continuous attacks from the regime in Iran against the State of Israel – right now the Israel Defense Forces is conducting precise strikes on military targets in Iran,” IDF said in a statement after the retaliation.
” The regime in Iran and its proxies in the region have been relentlessly attacking Israel since October 7th—on seven fronts—including direct attacks from Iranian soil. Like every other sovereign country in the world, the State of Israel has the right and the duty to respond. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are fully mobilized. We will do whatever necessary to defend the State of Israel and the people of Israel,” it added.
Israel has the right and duty to respond to attacks from Tehran and its proxies, which have included missile strikes launched from Iranian soil, the military said.
Israeli military officials have so far contended that targets did not include energy infrastructure or nuclear facilities.
#advance #Israels #retaliatory #strikes #Iran #White #House #responds #Times #India
