How Biden pushed Israel to limit its Iran attack and still inflict a heavy blow
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. WASHINGTON—Two weeks before Israeli warplanes struck Iran Saturday morning, President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on the parameters of the attack in a half-hour phone call, their first in almost two months. After mounting worry that Israel might strike Iran’s oil infrastructure or even nuclear installations, the Israeli leader set his sights on military targets—to the relief of American officials.
The airstrikes that unfolded met Washington’s expectations while dealing Iran a punishing blow. The attack destroyed Iran’s most advanced air-defense systems, while delivering a setback to the country’s ballistic missile program, U.S. and Israeli officials said Saturday.
While Iran is still considering its response, U.S. officials hope the severe damage inflicted on Iran’s air defenses will discourage Tehran from striking back as Washington renews diplomacy aimed at quelling the fighting in Gaza and Lebanon. “It looks like [Israel] didn’t hit anything other than military targets," Biden told reporters Saturday.
“I hope that this is the end." Nearly a month ago, the prospects of escalation seemed more ominous. Iran had carried out an Oct. 1 attack on Israel that involved about 180 ballistic missiles, some that reached their targets causing minimal damage and some that U.S.
officials say could have led to substantial casualties had they not been intercepted. After Israeli and U.S. forces successfully blocked a similar Iranian attack against Israel in April, Biden urged Netanyahu to temper his response.
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