Biden, Harris speak to Netanyahu about Israel's retaliation against Iran
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President Biden spoke on the phone Wednesday morning with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and discussed Israel's plans to retaliate against Iran.
- Vice President Harris also joined the call, the White House said.
Why it matters: The call was the first between Biden and Netanyahu since Aug. 21, and comes as Israel considers a major attack against Iran that could significantly escalate its regional war.
What they're saying: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the call lasted 30 minutes and was "direct and productive."
- "On Lebanon, the President emphasized the need for a diplomatic arrangement to safely return both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line," the White House said in a readout.
- "The President affirmed Israel's right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut."
- "On Gaza, the leaders discussed the urgent need to renew diplomacy to release the hostages held by Hamas. The President also discussed the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the imperative to restore access to the north, including by reinvigorating the corridor from Jordan immediately. "
- Biden said in a conference call with Jewish American rabbis later Wednesday that the U.S. "fully supports Israel's right to defend itself against Iran and its proxies."
Driving the news: Netanyahu hunkered down for hours on Tuesday night with senior ministers and the heads of Israel's military and intelligence services to discuss the scope and timing of Israel's attacks, according to two Israeli officials.
- Israeli officials say the retaliation is expected to be significant, and will likely include a combination of airstrikes on military targets in Iran and clandestine attacks like the one the killed Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
- On Thursday, Netanyahu will convene the security cabinet. According to Israeli law, the prime minister needs a vote of the cabinet for such a significant military action, which could lead to an all-out war with Iran.
The big picture: The Biden-Netanyahu call came one week after Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in response to a string of Israeli assassinations of senior Hamas, Hezbollah and Iranian officials.
- Many were intercepted, but two Israeli air bases sustained some structural damage. Several missiles landed near the Mossad intelligence headquarters in Tel Aviv but did not cause any damage.
- Tehran said its response would end there unless Israel attacked Iran. Israel, for its part, has vowed retaliation.
- Both U.S. and Israeli officials believe the tit-for-tat will continue, and that the U.S. and Israel will have to work together to combat a potential Iranian response.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre's statement about the call.
