Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently informed the administration of US President Joe Biden about Israel’s plans to strike military targets in Iran rather than nuclear or oil facilities, according to a report by The Washington Post. This information was revealed during a phone call with President Biden on October 9th. Netanyahu stated that he was planning to target military infrastructure in Iran, indicating that Israel might opt for “a more limited counterstrike aimed at preventing a full-scale war.
The Washington Post emphasizes that this plan has been met with relief in Washington, as an Israeli attack on oil facilities in Iran could lead to a significant increase in energy prices. Moreover, if the Jewish state targets Iranian nuclear facilities, it could trigger further escalation and increase the likelihood of the United States becoming more deeply involved in the ongoing events. On October 2nd, President Biden expressed that he did not think it was appropriate for Israel to strike nuclear facilities in Iran. The publication notes that Netanyahu seemed to be “in a more moderated place” during this discussion compared to previous discussions on the subject, as stated by sources.
According to the publication, an Israeli strike on military targets in Iran is expected to occur before the US presidential election scheduled for November 5th. This announcement follows a massive missile attack launched by Iran against Israel on October 1st, which was retaliation for the assassination of key figures from Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Tehran claimed that 90% of the missiles successfully hit their designated targets, while Israel said it intercepted most of the approximately 180 missiles fired by Iran. The Israel Defense Forces General Staff vowed to select an opportune moment for a surprise response to the attack, and Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that future strikes on Israel would be even more powerful.