Report: Netanyahu Assures Biden Israel’s Retaliation Against Iran Will Avoid Civilian Targets
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured US President Joe Biden that Israel’s planned retaliation for Iran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack would focus solely on military sites, according to a report from The Washington Post on Monday. This move is reportedly aimed at minimizing broader regional escalation and avoiding interference with the upcoming US elections.
The report, which cites two officials familiar with the matter, including one US source, noted that Netanyahu’s softened stance was a significant factor in the US decision to send advanced missile defense systems to Israel. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, along with 100 US soldiers to operate it, is expected to provide Israel with enhanced protection against potential Iranian reprisals.
Iran’s missile barrage was launched in retaliation for Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut on September 27. The attack caused minimal damage, but Israel has vowed a response. The US, concerned about further destabilization in the region, has been urging Israel to limit its targets to military infrastructure and avoid strikes on Iran’s oil or nuclear facilities.
Netanyahu’s commitment to Biden that Israel’s strikes would avoid non-military sites is seen as a response to concerns that attacks on oil infrastructure or nuclear facilities could lead to increased oil prices or heightened conflict—potentially affecting the US presidential election. Gulf states have also reportedly lobbied Washington to dissuade Israel from targeting Iranian oil facilities, fearing retaliatory strikes on their own energy assets.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said that while Israel considers US input, its final decisions will prioritize Israel’s security needs. The timing of Israel’s planned response remains flexible, with officials indicating that it could take place before the US election on November 5.
