Biden will not support attack on Iranian nuclear facilities as Israel weighs response to Iranian missile attack

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) – President Joe Biden said on Wednesday he would not support an Israeli attack on sites linked to those of Tehran Nuclear program in response to Iran's missile attack on Israel.

“The answer is no,” Biden told reporters when asked whether he would support such retaliation after Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday.

Biden's comments came after he and his Group of Seven colleagues from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom spoke by telephone about coordinating new sanctions against Iran.

The US and its allies are fighting to keep it Middle East conflict – triggered by Iran-backed Hamas militants attacking Israel in the Gaza Strip on October 7 – was prevented from spreading further. They are calling on Israel to show restraint as it weighs retaliation against Iran for Tuesday's attack.

Israel is now carrying out what it has described limited ground operations across the northern border with Lebanon to dig up Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, after it carried out a series of massive airstrikes that killed the group's leader. Hassan Nasrallah, and decimated his leadership.

Thousands of explosives last month hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies The explosive device used by Hezbollah exploded, killing dozens of people and maiming thousands, including many civilians. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack

As Israeli Prime Minister, Biden expressed his opposition to Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities Benjamin Netanyahu weighed a Choice of options in responding to Tuesday's attack. It was Iran's second such attack on Israel in less than six months.

Israel's decisions range from a largely symbolic attack – similar to how Israel responded after Iran fired a barrage of missiles and attack drones in April that hit oil facilities and other infrastructure.

Targeting Iran's controversial nuclear program is seen as perhaps the most provocative action Israel could take. The Democratic president believes this conflict could further exacerbate the conflict in the Middle East, which he already fears could develop into a larger regional conflict.

The White House said in a statement that G7 leaders “unequivocally condemned Iran's attack on Israel” and that Biden reaffirmed America's “total solidarity and support for Israel and its people.”

Biden added that he supports Israel's right to self-defense and that “something has to be done” in response to the Iranian bombardment. He said he expected the G7 countries to announce sanctions soon.

“We will discuss with the Israelis what they are going to do,” Biden told reporters before heading to the Carolinas to view the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. “All seven of us agree that they have the right to respond.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said in a statement that leaders expressed “strong concern about the escalation of these last hours” and stressed that “a conflict at the regional level is in no one's interest.” Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of industrialized democracies.

Biden said he plans to speak with Netanyahu “relatively soon.”

Biden's administration has signaled that it is urging Israel to show restraint in its response to the Iranian missile attack, which Biden said was “ineffective and defeated.”

The US military helped Israel defend itself against the attack, which Iran carried out in retaliation for the killing of the Tehran-backed leaders of the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said there must be “a counter message” to Iran. He said U.S. and Israeli officials continue to discuss their response.

“At the same time, I think we recognize that as important as the response may be, we recognize that the region is really on a knife edge,” Campbell said at a forum hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace was organized. a Washington think tank.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from Britain, France, Germany and Italy on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the Middle East.

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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Rome and White House correspondent Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.