US vows to help Israel repel Iran but warns against escalation

The US president has vowed to help Israel counter Iran’s looming attack but warned the Israeli prime minister not to count on US support if he escalates further and keeps Washington in the dark, as he did with the killing of a Hamas leader in Tehran.

Israel has kept its customary silence on the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr who was killed in Beirut only a day before the Palestinian leader. It is believed, almost universally, however, that both assassinations were planned and executed by Israeli secret services.

According to an Axios report citing two US officials, President Joe Biden had a “tough” call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, where he vented his frustration from the fallout from Israel’s escalatory action, as his administration tries to broker a hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

On Thursday, Iranian officials convened in Tehran with representatives from Iran-backed groups to discuss plans for what is said to be a joint mission against Israel, which they blame for the killing of Haniyeh and Shukr. Iran and its allies are preparing coordinated actions intended to “deter Israel while avoiding full-scale war," according to AFP.

This would be in line with Iran’s strategy in its last retaliatory action against Israel in April, where dozens of missiles and kamikaze drones were launched from Iran. Tehran telegraphed that strike in advance giving Israel, the US and their allies enough time to prepare and shoot down all but two of the missiles –which landed near a military base but left no casualties.

However, this time, it is not unclear whether Iran will give Israel and its allies that much time to prepare for any new round of major Iranian attacks, officials told The New York Times on Friday.

The Axios report seems to suggest that the Biden administration is mindful that the retaliatory cycle might become the ‘new normal’ and edge Israel and Iran closer to a full-blown war.

President Biden’s reported warning to Netanyahu comes amid parallel measures to bolster US military presence in the Middle East as well as support for its allies.

The US is “poised” to send more combat aircrafts to the Middle East, according to the New York Times report. However, the US lawmakers are not satisfied with the Biden administration's measures to protect Israel.

Earlier this week, two US lawmakers introduced a measure that would authorize the US government to give Israel ‘bunker buster’ bombs that can “take out” Iran’s underground nuclear facilities.

The bipartisan act, titled Bunker Busters Act, comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and Israel, but seems to be unrelated to recent events, as it was introduced Tuesday, one day before Haniyeh was killed in Tehran. It seems to have gained more significance, however, amid reports of retaliation against Israel, “as early as this weekend.”

“We cannot sit silently while the ayatollah and his minions plot to wipe Israel off the map,” said Mast in a statement, “Israel must have the tools necessary to protect its people against Iranian aggression.” Gottheimer echoed Mast’s message. “While Iran and its terrorist proxies continue to wreak havoc and chaos around the world, we must ensure they can never threaten the US or our allies with a nuclear weapon.”

Currently, the Biden administration does not have the authority to give Israel a ‘bunker buster’ –or Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). The bill, if passed and enacted, would provide congressional authorization for such a provision, pending the results of Pentagon study on whether this move serves US national security interests.

The MOP weighs around 13 tons, according to the US Air Force, and is intended to penetrate up to 200 feet underground before exploding.