US and Israel weigh military response as tensions with Iran escalate
The Pentagon is withholding details regarding potential Israeli retaliatory actions following Iran's missile attack. The governments of the United States and Israel are in consultation regarding further military steps, with ongoing speculation about potential targets in Iran.
The USA and Israel are engaging in intensive consultations regarding a possible military response to the missile attack carried out by Iran on Israeli targets on Tuesday. However, the Pentagon has not yet provided any information about the approval of Israeli retaliatory actions.
The USA is consulting targets with Israel
When asked by reporters whether Iranian oil facilities could become potential targets for an Israeli attack, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh replied, "So what I can tell you, is we're certainly consulting with Israel and talking to them about their response [about the Iranian missile attack], but I'm just not going to go any further than that."
Singh also noted that not all operations conducted by Israel are previously discussed with the USA. "We don't get a heads up on every single operation that they're conducting every single day," said the Pentagon spokesperson.
Nevertheless, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin remains in constant contact with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Galant. Both leaders regularly exchange views on the current situation in the region and possible responses to Iran's actions.
Biden pledges support for Israel
President Joe Biden confirmed previous commitments of full US support for Israel. The United States administration has already decided to send additional military units to the Middle East. Talks with Israeli authorities are also ongoing about possible attacks on strategic targets in Iran, including oil installations.
Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that Iran must expect a painful response to Tuesday's attack. "Iran made a big mistake tonight - and it will pay for it," Netanyahu announced. According to CNBC, one of the scenarios being discussed involves strikes on facilities related to Iran's oil industry.
Concerns about economic consequences
The current crisis in the region is raising worries in financial circles. Analysts from Wall Street express concerns that aggressive military actions, especially attacks on oil targets, may lead to an increase in oil prices, affecting the global market. The costs of such operations could thus exceed the boundaries of conflict and impact the global economy.
Hezbollah attacks on Israel
Meanwhile, the armed conflict isn't limited solely to Israel's actions against Iran. On Thursday, according to Israeli military sources, Hezbollah militants operating from Lebanon fired over 230 rocket missiles toward Israel. In response, Israeli fighter jets attacked 15 Hezbollah-controlled sites in Beirut, Lebanon's capital. The Israeli army called on residents of southern Beirut suburbs to evacuate, warning of upcoming additional airstrikes.
According to Lebanese government estimates, more than 1,000 people have died in Israeli airstrikes carried out over the past two weeks. Additionally, around 1.2 million Lebanese have had to leave their homes due to intense military actions. Television and media report that a large portion of the victims are civilians, worsening the region's humanitarian crisis.
A million residents in Lebanon are fleeing bombings to the north of the country.
