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The New York Times: Biden dissuaded Netanyahu from immediately retaliating against Iran after overnight attack
Israel did not launch an immediate strike in response to the Iranian attack on the night of April 14 after a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden, two Israeli officials told The New York Times anonymously.
The immediate retaliatory attack was supported by several members of the Israeli government, but Netanyahu's phone call with Biden and the lack of serious damage caused by Iran led to its cancellation, the newspaper said. At the same time, the publication’s interlocutors did not reveal other details of the conversation between the leaders of Israel and the United States.
Earlier, Axios, citing sources, reported that the US President, in a telephone conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister after the Iranian strike, said that Washington would not support an Israeli counterattack against Iran. “You won, enjoy your success,” Biden told Netanyahu, according to one of the Axios people.
In a White House statement issued after Biden and Netanyahu spoke on the night of April 14, the US leader said: “I just spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu to reaffirm the United States' ironclad commitment to Israel's security. I told him that Israel has demonstrated an amazing ability to defend itself and defeat even unprecedented attacks, sending a clear signal to its enemies that they cannot effectively threaten Israel's security."
In another article, The New York Times notes that Biden and his team are seeking to prevent an escalation of the conflict. In dialogue with Israel, they note that successful defense against Iranian strikes is a major strategic victory for Israeli forces that does not require a new round of retaliatory strikes, the material says.
In turn, member of the Israeli military cabinet Benny Gantz said that Israel will respond to Iran's attack when the time comes. “Faced with a threat from Iran, we will create a regional coalition and demand that Iran pay when and how it is convenient for us,” he said.
On the afternoon of April 14, Israel's military cabinet met for a meeting to discuss the country's response to the Iranian strike. The Israeli publication Ynet reported that Israeli authorities are considering the possibility of attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.
- Iran attacked Israel on the night of April 14, using about 300 missiles and drones. The attack was Iran's response to an Israeli strike on the Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus in early April. Israel's military said it shot down most of its air targets, and the Iranian attack caused minor damage to the Nevatim airbase in the Negev Desert. Iran threatened Israel with a more massive attack if it responded to the attack.