Illustrative image. (The Israeli Defense Forces)
United States President Joe Biden said on October 4 that Israel has not yet decided how it’s going to respond to Iran’s latest missile attack, but suggested it should not Attack Iranian oil facilities.
“If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields,” Biden said during a rare appearance at the White House daily press briefing.
Just a day earlier, the President said that the idea of an Israeli strike on Iranian oil facilities was “in discussion.” The remarks caused oil prices to rise sharply amid fears of a sudden shock to the global supply.
“I think — I think that would be a little — anyway,” Biden said on October 3, adding that Israel would ultimately make its own decisions on how to respond to Iran’s massive missile strike. Hours later, he said “I know not to negotiate in public” when asked if he had urged Israel not to attack Iran’s oil infrastructure.
Iran launched some 200 ballistic missiles at Israel on October 1, hitting key security and military targets in the center and south of the country.
The attack was in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of the Hamas Movement, in Tehran last July, and the recent assassinations of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian General Abbas Nilforoushan in the Lebanese capital of Beirut.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the attack that Tehran had made “a big mistake” and “will pay for it.” From its side, the Pentagon announced the deployment of additional troops and warplanes in the Middle East.
Despite Biden’s recent remarks, Hebrew media reports suggested the Israeli response was being closely coordinated with the U.S.
Iran has already warned that any strike by Israel will be met with an even stronger attack with reports of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordering retaliatory strikes on Israeli infrastructure. Tehran and its allies also warned the U.S. and its allies in the region of aiding any Israeli attack on its territory.
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