SAHARA REPORTERS
US President Joe Biden is expected to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that will include a discussion of any plans to strike Iran.
Biden and Netanyahu are also expected to discuss the conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and with Hezbollah in Lebanon, along with other topics, three US officials confirmed. Biden and his aides have spoken of a possible call with Netanyahu since the end of September.
It would be their first known talks since August, amid a sharp escalation of the conflict with both Hezbollah and Iran.
The Middle East has been on edge awaiting Israel’s response to a missile attack from Iran last week that Tehran carried out in retaliation for Israel’s military escalation in Lebanon. I
ran on Tuesday launched a two-wave ballistic missile attack in response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week and following the July 31 assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
The salvo of 180 projectiles caused no casualties as most missiles were intercepted, according to Israeli army reports.
Iran claimed it was targeting three military bases in the Tel Aviv area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immediately pledged to retaliate and said Iran “made a big mistake and will pay”, as the US rallied behind its close ally.
“Make no mistake, the United States is fully, fully, fully supportive of Israel,” President Joe Biden said at the White House, adding that he was discussing a response to the attack.
The region now hangs in the balance as it waits to see whether Israel will choose to de-escalate or seek to confront its longtime foe with US backing.
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