Biden Opposes Israeli Strike on Iran's Nuclear Facilities After Missile Attack

President Joe Biden made it clear this week that he will not back an Israeli retaliatory strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, despite Tehran's aggressive missile attack on the Jewish state. Following Iran’s launch of roughly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which fortunately caused minimal damage thanks to joint defense efforts, Israel is now poised to respond. But Biden is already warning Israel to hold back.

“The answer is no,” Biden said to reporters on Wednesday when asked about the possibility of an Israeli counter-strike targeting Iranian nuclear sites. Instead, the president called for a “proportional response” a move that signals weakness at a time when strength is needed most.

Iran’s missile barrage, though largely neutralized by Israel’s missile defense systems, marks a dangerous escalation. The attack was Iran’s response to Israel’s recent series of targeted assassinations of high-ranking Iranian officials and terror leaders, including Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. While damage was limited, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a decisive response, saying the Iranian regime would “pay for it.”

Biden’s plea for restraint comes as Israeli leaders weigh several retaliatory options. While Iran’s nuclear facilities are a prime target, they are well-fortified and difficult to hit. As a result, Iran’s oil and natural gas infrastructure the lifeblood of its economy has emerged as a more feasible target. But Netanyahu’s government has long viewed Iran’s nuclear ambitions as an existential threat, making Biden’s call for a restrained response all the more troubling.

Netanyahu, whose political platform has consistently emphasized the Iranian threat, didn’t mince words in his response to Iran's aggression. "The regime of Iran does not understand our determination to defend ourselves," Netanyahu said, promising retaliation in line with Israel’s long-standing policy: “Whoever attacks, we will attack them.”

Iran’s nuclear program has long been a red line for Israel. Tehran’s ongoing progress toward building a nuclear bomb poses a direct threat to Israeli security, and Netanyahu has led the charge against allowing Iran to reach that goal. Biden’s reluctance to support a strong Israeli response only complicates matters, signaling a lack of resolve from the White House when it comes to confronting Iran’s growing influence and aggression in the Middle East.

There is widespread unity in Israel behind a robust retaliation, as noted by Daily Wire editor emeritus Ben Shapiro. “From the left to the right, the Labor Party to Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, there’s great unity in Israel for the possibility of doing severe damage to the Iranian regime’s economic capabilities and nuclear capabilities,” Shapiro said. Israel is ready to act but Biden’s opposition may leave them without full U.S. support.

The Biden administration’s response to Iranian aggression has been weak at best, and this latest refusal to support Israel in targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure only furthers the perception that the White House is more concerned with appeasement than with protecting its allies. Iran’s missile attack was not just a provocation; it was an act of war. But instead of rallying behind Israel, Biden is urging them to play nice—at a time when Israel needs to defend itself.

For years, Iran has been inching closer to a nuclear weapon, and Israel has made it clear they will not stand by while that happens. With Biden sitting on the sidelines, it’s uncertain how far Israel will go, but one thing is clear: Israel cannot afford to let this attack go unanswered.

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