White House 'continuing' to advise Israel on response to Iranian attack

WASHINGTON

The White House said Monday that the Biden administration is "continuing" to advise the Israeli government on its response to last week's Iranian ballistic missile attack.

"We are continuing to have discussions with the Israelis about their response, obviously responding to Iran's attack, almost 200 missiles right that went flying into Israel," spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. "Our commitment continues to be very clear on Israel's security, and that's ironclad. Those conversations continue."

US President Joe Biden suggested last week that Israel should not strike Iran's oil or nuclear facilities, and Jean-Pierre declined to specify what the president believes a "proportionate" response to the attack would entail.

"If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields," the president said during his first appearance in the White House press briefing room in the nearly four years since he assumed office. He said Wednesday that he opposed strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

Israel has vowed to respond to last week's Iranian ballistic missile attack, which Tehran says was conducted in retaliation for the July assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, and the killing Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last month.