A senior Biden administration official has indicated that Israel’s recent strikes against Iran appear to be focused on military targets, avoiding more sensitive areas such as nuclear facilities and oil fields.
During his visit to the region this week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to limit the scope of their targets. The administration believes that doing so could help break the cycle of retaliation without escalating into a broader conflict.
A second official revealed that prior to the strikes, the U.S. was aware that Israel felt compelled to respond, but encouraged them to refrain from hitting more sensitive targets in an effort to prevent further escalation.
Three U.S. defense officials confirmed to NBC News that Israel had provided advance notice to the U.S. before launching the strikes, but emphasized that the U.S. was not directly involved in the actions taken by Israel.
An Israeli official, speaking to NBC News, reiterated that the strikes were not directed at Iranian nuclear facilities or oil fields, but instead focused on military targets. “We’re targeting things that might have threatened us in the past or could do in the future,” the official stated.
The strikes come amid heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, with both sides engaging in a series of retaliatory actions in recent months. The U.S. has been working to de-escalate the situation, seeking to prevent a full-scale conflict in the region.
