Biden Supports Proportionate Israeli Response to Iranian Missile Attack

Latest Developments

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that he supports a proportionate Israeli response in retaliation for Tehran’s October 1 ballistic missile attack against the Jewish state but would not support a strike on Iran’s nuclear program.

On October 1, Tehran launched a massive barrage of more than 180 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state from Iranian soil. Air raid sirens sounded throughout the country as approximately 10 million Israelis rushed to bomb shelters. Speaking in the wake of the attack, Israel Defense Forces Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the Iranian attack was a “severe and dangerous escalation” that will prompt an Israeli response. The barrage follows an earlier Iranian barrage on April 13-14, when Tehran launched more than 300 missiles and drones at Israel.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Tuesday that the United States would work with Israel to impose “severe consequences” for the Iranian attack.

Expert Analysis

“Following Iran’s attack on the Jewish state in April, President Biden told Jerusalem to ‘take the win,’ urging Netanyahu to stand down. This time, the tone out of Washington is very different, with Biden voicing support for an Israeli response. Biden’s assertive stance sends a signal to America’s friends and foes that Washington remains invested in the region.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Make no mistake, the one force Tehran is counting on to handcuff Israel’s recent military successes in the region and increasingly permit the Islamic Republic to overtly attack Israel from Iranian territory with little cost is American restraint. Team Biden must therefore know that any gap between the US and Israeli positions now will undermine deterrence and make countering the full-spectrum of Iran’s threats to the region increasingly harder.”  — Behnam Ben Taleblu, FDD Senior Fellow

Related Analysis

“Iran Escalates Multi-Front Assault on Israel as Missiles Rain on Jewish State,” FDD Flash Brief

“The threat of all-out Middle East war looms: two scenarios,” by Mark Dubowitz

“The Contest of Wills Between Israel and Hezbollah,” by David Daoud and Ahmad Sharawi