JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel will hearken to america however will determine its actions in line with its personal nationwide curiosity, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace stated in an announcement on Tuesday.
The assertion was connected to a Washington Put up article which stated Netanyahu had informed President Joe Biden’s administration that Israel would strike Iranian navy, not nuclear or oil, targets.
The assertion got here amid expectations that Israel will strike in retaliation for Iran’s missile assault on Israel on Oct 1. That assault adopted quickly spiralling battle between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.
Citing two officers acquainted with the matter, the Washington Put up stated Netanyahu had informed the Biden administration that he was prepared to strike navy relatively than oil or nuclear amenities in Iran, suggesting a extra restricted counterstrike geared toward stopping a full-scale battle.
The retaliatory motion can be calibrated to keep away from the notion of “political interference within the U.S. elections,” the Washington Put up quoted one official as saying.
“We hearken to the opinions of america, however we are going to make our ultimate choices primarily based on our nationwide pursuits,” Netanyahu’s workplace stated, in an announcement that was additionally quoted within the Washington Put up article.
Biden has stated he wouldn’t assist an assault on Iran’s nuclear websites and oil markets have been on edge over the prospect of an Israeli strike in opposition to Iranian oil fields.
Gulf states have lobbied Washington to cease Israel from attacking Iran’s oil websites as a result of they’re involved their very own oil amenities may come beneath hearth from Tehran’s proxies if the battle escalates.