Israel no longer seeking American permission ahead of significant war moves, as the Biden administration seeks regional calm ahead of the November presidential election.
By World Israel News Staff
Israel has yet to disclose its plans to retaliate for Iran’s massive ballistic missile barrage last week, angering Biden administration officials who are desperate for regional calm ahead of the U.S. presidential elections next month, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
President Joe Biden has repeatedly called on Israel to avoid striking Iran’s nuclear facilities or oil assets, moves which would likely spark a serious counter-attack from Iran.
However, Israel will not commit to refraining from hitting those targets, the Journal reported.
In recent months, Israel made several significant military decisions, including assassinating Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, without seeking American permission beforehand.
The report described a terse interaction between Defense Minister Yoav Gallant informed his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, after the Nasrallah strike.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” Austin reportedly said, following Gallant relaying that the Israeli Air Force had bombed Nasrallah’s Beirut compound.
Later, Austin asked Gallant if Jerusalem was prepared to defend itself “alone,” as the U.S. was not informed in time to prepare defenses for Israel.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to have delayed Gallant’s trip to Washington, where he was set to discuss Iran attack plans with Austin.
Netanyahu is expected to speak directly with Biden on Wednesday, after weeks of silence between the two, a source told Reuters.
“We want to use the call to try and shape the limitations of the Israeli retaliation,” a U.S. official told Axios.
According to the Axios report, the U.S. “wants to make sure Israel attacks targets in Iran that are significant without being disproportionate.”
Last week, Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, in what is believed to be one of the largest barrages of its kind in history.
At least 25 of those missiles impacted in Israel, both in open areas and causing damage to some Israeli air force bases, an army spokesman said.