The Israeli Government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated that while it will consider the opinions of the United States, it will ultimately act in accordance with its own national interests. This statement was made in response to inquiries regarding a report from the Washington Post.
According to the report, which cited anonymous officials, Netanyahu conveyed to U.S. President Joe Biden that Israel plans to target Iranian military facilities, explicitly excluding oil and nuclear targets. This approach appears to be part of a more limited counterstrike strategy following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel two weeks ago.
The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran have raised concerns about the potential for a wider regional conflict. There is significant uncertainty regarding Israel’s response to the hundreds of ballistic missiles fired by Iran on October 1. Biden has expressed opposition to an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, warning that such actions could escalate the situation and potentially involve the U.S. in the conflict. An attack on Iranian oil facilities could further impact global energy prices.
Additionally, Israel has informed the U.S. that it intends to conclude its operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon in the coming weeks, according to a Washington Post source.
In its brief statement, Netanyahu’s office emphasized, “We listen to the opinions of the U.S., but we will make our final decisions based on our national interests.”