On Tuesday, October 1, the United States announced that it assisted Israel in stopping an Iranian missile attack. A senior official from the White House shared with reporters that the US military worked closely with Israeli forces to intercept the missiles.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan explained, “US naval destroyers joined Israeli air defense units in firing interceptors to shoot down in-bound missiles.” He added, “This was first and foremost the result of the professionalism of the Israeli military. But it was also due to the skilled work of the US military and careful planning in anticipation of the attack.”
When asked about possible actions Israel might take in response, Sullivan said that discussions were ongoing between US and Israeli leaders. “We want to have some deep consultations with the Israelis,” he mentioned.
Later, Sullivan said, “We are proud of the actions that we’ve taken alongside Israel to protect and defend Israel. We have made clear that there will be consequences — severe consequences — for this attack, and we will work with Israel to make that the case.”
Some experts have warned that if the Biden administration doesn’t encourage Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza, it could lead to larger conflicts in the region. Raed Jarrar, an advocacy director at DAWN, said, “A regional war becomes inevitable when the United States continues to fund and aid Netanyahu and all of his actions.”
On Tuesday evening, Iran’s military announced it fired missiles at Israel in response to violence in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as recent attacks on leaders of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. This announcement came shortly after Israel reported it had made limited ground incursions into southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah denied.
The situation has escalated recently, with Israeli airstrikes causing many casualties. Amid this tension, the Biden administration has stated it supports diplomatic efforts and wants to reduce conflict.
However, critics point out that the US continues to provide strong military and diplomatic backing to Israel. Washington gives Israel at least $3.8 billion in military aid each year, and since the Gaza conflict began in October of last year, Biden has approved an additional $14 billion in support.
Earlier on Tuesday, the White House said that Biden had instructed the military to assist Israel in defending against Iranian attacks and to intercept missiles targeting the country. The Pentagon added that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, discussed the serious consequences for Iran if it attacks Israel directly.
A spokesperson for the US State Department stated that the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s security remains “ironclad.” Matthew Miller told reporters, “We will continue to stand with the people of Israel at this critical moment.”
However, Jarrar argued that the US’s unconditional support has contributed to the current tensions. He stated, “The Biden administration is dysfunctional and there is no one behind the wheel. There is no leadership whatsoever.” He expressed concern that this situation has led the region into more conflict.
