The big news over the weekend was Iran launching a reported 300 missiles and drones into Israel.
Israel is expected to respond with significant force, but according to reports, Biden and Netanyahu had a phone conversation over the weekend where Biden told the Israeli PM that the U.S. would not support a counterattack.
Talking Points…
- Israel attacked by Iran
- Responses to attack
- Analysis
We have always believed that any direct attack against Israel by Iran would result in a significant escalation, possibly resulting in the United States being drawn into a war that could escalate into a global conflict. This weekend, that attack took place.
Iran launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. After the attack was launched, there were reports that a significant number of the drones and missiles did not perform properly. Additionally, the overwhelming majority of missiles and drones that did make it into Israeli airspace were intercepted and destroyed. After the attack took place, Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated:
"The Iranian threat met the aerial and technological superiority of the IDF, along with a strong fighting coalition — which together intercepted the overwhelming majority of the threats. 99% of the threats launched towards Israeli territory were intercepted — a very significant strategic achievement."
The IDF has also announced that "very little damage was caused" by the attack, with only one casualty reported, that is a 10-year-old girl who was struck by shrapnel. It also noted that not a single one of the 170 drones that were sent to attack Israel managed to cross into Israeli airspace before they were shot down. The IDF added:
"Out of over 120 ballistic missiles, only a few crossed into Israeli territory, with the rest being intercepted. These fell at the Nevatim Air Force Base, causing only minor damage to infrastructure."
One would think that the United States would back Israel in whatever counterattack it decided was justified after this attack by Iran, but that was not the case. According to multiple outlets, Biden spoke with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu after the attack and warned him of launching a massive counterattack against Israel. Biden reportedly told Netanyahu:
"You won a victory today. Be content with this victory."
Trump immediately posted on Truth Social that this attack would have never happened had he still been in office, which sent the Biden administration into damage control mode. White House national security communications spokesperson John Kirby tried to flip the script, blaming Iran's capabilities on Trump, stating:
"It's hard to take a look at what President Biden has done and say that we have somehow gone soft on Iran.
"It was the previous administration that decided to get us out of the Iran deal. And now Iran is so much dramatically closer to a potential nuclear weapon capability than they were before Mr. Trump was elected."
Former National Security Advisor John Bolton all but accused the Biden administration of cowardice and betrayal by not supporting Israel if it decides to counterattack. Bolton hit the nail on the head in saying that unless Israel launches an attack strong enough to make an impression, these bold attacks by Iran will continue. He stated:
"And most importantly, I think Israel should be looking at this as an opportunity to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program, which is the existential threat that Israel faces. I don't know what they'll do. I can't predict it, but I will tell you this: If Joe Biden, as some press reports have it, is urging the Israelis not to retaliate at all, he is an embarrassment to the United States.
"This is an American interest to make sure that Iran, which is the principal threat to international peace and security in the region, is at a minimum put in its place to spare Israel, to spare the Gulf Arabs, and to spare us from the threat that they pose."
I tend to agree with Bolton on this one as I firmly believe that Biden should 100% support Israel in whatever decision it makes to go after Iran or the attacks continue. If Iran is not stopped, at some point, they are going to draw us into another war, be it through attacking Israel or, God forbid, supporting a terrorist attack on American soil. NATO countries are now standing on that red line, and if they cross it, we will be in World War III.
