Biden's appeal to Israel: You have a win here, take it

 

Iran

Biden's words prompted Israel to suspend

Knut Sahlin Ekberg

Updated 16.43 | Published 16.23

Israel planned to respond to Iran's attack during the night.

But Biden's words caused them to pause.

Hundreds of robots and drones flew towards Israeli territory last night. And according to several American media, a direct retaliation against Iran was proposed during the night.

Now the development is closely followed by the outside world.

New York TimesThe New York Times reports that a retaliatory attack was ruled out by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a call with US President Joe Biden.

Biden cut short his leave on Saturday and returned to the White House just hours before Iran launched its attack on Israel. Photo: AP

"Strategic profit"

The Biden administration praised  Israel's defense capabilities and how the robots that were fired managed to be shot back. They call it a "strategic win" and that retaliation need not be necessary, the New York Times reports.

Biden is also said to have told Netanyahu:

- You have a win here, take it, he said according to CNN.

In a statement from the White House, the United States declared its continued unwavering support for Israel's security. But at the same time, the US president has been clear - the US will not participate in an offensive against Iran.

Israel shot down most of the Iranian drones and robots. Photo: AP

Possible to avoid major war

White House spokesman John Kirby said in an interview with CNN earlier today that it is possible to avoid the outbreak of a major war. And that the president is doing what he can to de-escalate the situation.

But on Sunday afternoon, Israel's war cabinet met again - this time to discuss what a response to Iran will look like. What was said during the meeting is unclear. According to Israeli sources to CNN, Israel will respond to the attack, but details of what such retaliation will look like have not been determined.

Several countries have expressed concern about an escalation in the conflict. And Russia, China, France and Germany have urged Israel to exercise restraint, Reuters reports.

         
Israel was attacked from four directions, according to Iranian state media, with attacks from Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq, in addition to Iran. Photo: Graphics
 

FACTS

This has happened

At 22:00 last night, Iran began its attack by sending drones towards the Israeli border. Shortly thereafter, a press release was issued about the impending attack.

Shortly before midnight, the first ballistic missiles were fired. In total, over 300 robots and drones were fired, writes Al Jazeera. They are said to have been fired from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen.

The attack was seen as retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus earlier in April, in which several top Iranian military officials were killed.

However, according to the Jerusalem Post, none of the robots in the night's attack reached Israeli airspace. Almost all were shot back by fighter jets.

Only one person, a 10-year-old girl, was injured in the attack.

But this morning Israel struck Hezbollah military bases in southern Lebanon.