Israel conducted a limited retaliation against Iran overnight, prompting a tightlipped response from the White House as US officials aimed to maintain a level of distance from the decision. While American officials acknowledged receiving a warning from Israel about the strike, they neither endorsed nor condemned the action, emphasizing that the choice was solely Israel's.
The White House clarified that they were not involved in the decision-making process. Despite President Joe Biden advising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint following last weekend's attack, US officials anticipated that Israel would take some form of action. It was believed that Israel's response would be limited in scope and intended to convey a message to Iran.
The White House had requested advance notice from Israel regarding their plans, indicating a level of communication between the two nations. The decision to strike Iran was made independently by Israel, with the US maintaining a neutral stance on the matter.
