Biden expected to discuss Israeli attack on Iran with Netanyahu: Axios
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After two months of silence, Netanyahu is prepared to outline his plans for a potential attack on Iran during discussions with Biden.
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President Joe Biden meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, July 25, 2024. (AP)
US President Joe Biden is expected to conduct a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss "Israel's" plans to strike Iran, three US officials told Axios.
This call comes as a first between the two in almost two months, as an attack against Iran could significantly escalate the Israeli aggression on Lebanon and Gaza into a regional war.
On Tuesday night, Netanyahu spent several hours in discussions with senior ministers and leaders of "Israel's" military and intelligence services to determine the scope and timing of "Israel's" attacks, according to two Israeli officials, reported Axios.
Officials indicate that "Israel's" retaliation is anticipated to be significant, likely involving airstrikes on military targets in Iran and covert operations similar to the one that targeted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
However, "Israel" also considered possible strikes on Iran's oil infrastructure, which Biden opposed.
An aide to Netanyahu informed Axios that once a decision is reached, Netanyahu would seek to brief Biden.
On the other hand, a US official told Axios that the US intends to "shape the limitations" of the Israeli attack during the call, explaining that the administration wants to make sure the attack is not "disproportionate".
The call comes a week after Iran's retaliatory strike in Operation True Promise 2, in which it launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israeli military targets.
The IRGC released a statement following the launch of the response, saying "We have targeted the heart of the occupied territories in response to the assassination of martyrs Haniyeh, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and Nilforooshan."
Severed US-Netanyahu relations
Earlier, Israeli officials revealed that Security Minister Yoav Gallant postponed his scheduled trip to Washington, DC after Netanyahu vetoed it at the last moment, Axios reported.
Gallant's visit, originally set for Wednesday, was intended to focus on US-"Israel" coordination regarding a potential retaliatory strike on Iran.
Netanyahu’s decision to block the trip underscores ongoing tension between him and Gallant, whom he has attempted to dismiss twice in the past two years, as per the report.
It is worth mentioning that US officials have been expressing growing distrust in the Israeli occupation over its military and diplomatic actions in light of its aggression on Lebanon and Gaza.
According to four US officials speaking to Axios, the trust deficit has been magnified by the planned attack on Iran, which poses significant risks for US forces and interests in the region.
While the US is not opposed to the Israeli occupation attacking Iran, it is pressing for a measured approach. One US official commented, "Our trust of the Israelis is very low right now, and for good reason," as reported by Axios.
