Biden to hold call with Israeli PM Netanyahu to discuss potential strike on Iran

U.S. President Joe Biden is set to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, where the leaders will discuss potential Israeli military actions against Iran, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Israel’s retaliation will probably target significant Iranian assets

The phone call comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, following a missile strike from Iran last week that caused no casualties in Israel. Tehran claimed the strike was in retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Lebanon. Israeli officials have vowed to respond, with Netanyahu declaring that Iran “will pay for the strike.”

Biden is expected to weigh in on Netanyahu’s potential course of action and discuss possible alternatives to military escalation. According to an unnamed U.S. official cited by Axios, Washington aims to ensure that any Israeli retaliation targets significant Iranian assets without being disproportionate.

The White House has not commented publicly on the call, but sources have confirmed it will cover Israel’s conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Biden has previously stated his desire to prevent an all-out war in the region, saying, “We want to shape the limitations of Israeli retaliation.”

The call between Biden and Netanyahu would be the first since August. It comes at a critical moment, as Israel weighs its options for responding to the Iranian attack.

Other discussions delayed

In related developments, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant canceled a planned trip to Washington for a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, initially set for Wednesday.

This follows Biden’s decision to withdraw from scheduled talks with leaders from the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany to focus on domestic issues, including the response to Hurricane Milton.