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U.S. NEWS Monday 15 april 2024
U.S. works to prevent an escalation across the Mideast as Biden

pushes Israel to show restraint

By ZEKE MILLER and MI- to further destabilizing ini-
CHELLE L. PRICE tiatives.”
Associated Press A senior U.S. administration
WASHINGTON (AP) — The official said some of the
United States on Sunday countries discussed listing
highlighted its role in help- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard
ing Israel thwart Iran’s aer- Corps as a terrorist organi-
ial attack as President Joe zation and unlocking fur-
Biden convened leaders of ther sanctions against Teh-
the Group of Seven coun- ran, though no final deci-
tries in an effort to prevent sions were made.
a wider regional escalation The Israel-Hamas war was
and coordinate a global referenced in the G7 state-
rebuke of Tehran. ment, with the leaders say-
The U.S. assisted Israel in ing they will bolster “our co-
shooting down dozens of operation to end the crisis
drones and missiles fired by in Gaza, including by con-
Iran on Saturday in what tinuing to work towards an
was the first time it had immediate and sustainable
launched a direct military ceasefire and the release
assault on Israel. Israeli au- of hostages by Hamas, and
thorities said 99% of the in- In this image provided by the White House, President Joe Biden, along with members of his national deliver increased humani-
bound weapons were shot security team, receive an update on an ongoing airborne attack on Israel from Iran, as they meet tarian assistance to Pales-
down without causing any in the Situation Room of the White House in Washington, Saturday, April 13, 2024. From left to tinians in need.”
significant damage. right, facing Biden are, Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns; Avril Haines, Director Speaking before a meeting
of National Intelligence; Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake
U.S. officials said that de- Sullivan. Some papers on the desk have been blurred by the source for national security reasons. Sunday of the United Na-
spite the high interception Associated Press tions Security Council, U.S.
rate, Iran’s intent was to deputy ambassador Rob-
“destroy and cause casu- ficials said. Biden and se- that the U.S. would mount a Biden had a call Sunday ert Wood reaffirmed the
alties” and that if success- nior officials monitored similar effort again if need- with Jordan’s King Abdul- administration’s “ironclad
ful, the strikes would have the firings and intercep- ed. lah II in which the king said support for the defense of
caused an “uncontrol- tion attempts in real time The officials rejected the any “escalatory measures” Israel.”
lable” escalation across in the White House Situa- notion that Iran intention- by Israel would lead to a “In coming days, and in
the Mideast. U.S. officials tion Room. The officials said ally gave Israel and the broader conflict in the re- consultation with other
said Biden told Israeli Prime there was “relief” in the U.S. time to prepare for an gion, according to the Roy- member states, the Unit-
Minister Benjamin Netan- room once they saw that attack, but said they took al Court. The White House ed States will explore ad-
yahu, in an effort to con- the missile defense efforts advantage of the time said the situation in Gaza ditional measures to hold
tain tensions, that Washing- had succeeded. Iran needed before it was was discussed, and the Iran accountable here at
ton would not participate A senior U.S. military offi- ready to launch the as- leaders reaffirmed their co- the United Nations,” Wood
in any offensive action cial said American aircraft sault to prepare their re- operation “to find a path said, calling for immediate
against Iran, and the presi- shot down more than 70 sponse. The officials said to end the crisis as soon as Security Council condem-
dent made “very clear” to drones and cruise missiles, Iran passed word to the U.S. possible.” nation of the Iranian at-
Netanyahu “that we do while U.S. destroyers in the while the attack was un- The president also spoke tack.
have to think carefully and eastern Mediterranean Sea folding late Saturday that with some of the U.S. forces The U.S. and Israel had been
strategically” about risks of downed between four and what was seen was the to- involved in shooting down bracing for an attack for
escalation. six ballistic missiles, and an tality of their response. The the Iranian drones. days after Iran said it would
The push to encourage Is- American Patriot missile message was sent through After the G7 videoconfer- retaliate for a suspected Is-
rael to show restraint mir- battery in Iraq shot down the Swiss government since ence Sunday, the leaders raeli strike this month on an
rored ongoing American one more. the two countries don’t issued a joint statement Iranian consular building in
efforts to curtail Israel’s war “At my direction, to sup- have direct diplomatic ties. “unequivocally condemn- Syria that killed 12 people,
against Hamas in Gaza, port the defense of Israel, Biden, in a Saturday eve- ing in the strongest terms” including two senior Irani-
which is now in its seventh the U.S. military moved air- ning call with Netanyahu, the direct attack by Iran an generals in the Revolu-
month, and to do more to craft and ballistic missile urged that Israel claim vic- while expressing “our full tionary Guard’s elite Quds
protect civilian lives in the defense destroyers to the tory for its defense prowess solidarity and support to Is- Force.
territory. region over the course of as the president aimed to rael” and reaffirming “our Florida Sen. Marco Rubio,
While the U.S. and its allies the past week,” Biden said persuade America’s clos- commitment towards its se- the top Republican on the
were preparing for days for in a statement late Satur- est Middle East ally not to curity.” Senate Intelligence Com-
such an attack, the launch- day. “Thanks to these de- undertake a larger retalia- The group of advanced de- mittee, criticized the White
es were at the “high end” ployments and the extraor- tory strike against Iran, the mocracies — the U.S., Italy, House for “leaking it to the
of what was anticipated, dinary skill of our service- officials said. Japan, Germany, France, press” that Biden told Ne-
according to the officials, members, we helped Israel “I told him that Israel dem- Britain and Canada — also tanyahu to take the win
who were not authorized to take down nearly all of the onstrated a remarkable said that Iran, “with its ac- and not retaliate.
publicly discuss the matter incoming drones and mis- capacity to defend against tions, has further stepped Rubio told CNN’s “State of
and spoke on condition of siles.” and defeat even unprece- toward the destabilization the Union” that it was “part
anonymity. Administration officials said dented attacks — sending of the region and risks pro- of the White House’s ef-
At one point, at least 100 the call demonstrated that a clear message to its foes voking an uncontrollable forts to appease” people
ballistic missiles from Iran despite differences over that they cannot effec- regional escalation.” They calling for a cease-fire in
were in the air simultane- the war in Gaza, the U.S. tively threaten the security said their nations “stand Gaza.q
ously with just minutes of commitment to Israel’s de- of Israel,” Biden said in his ready to take further mea-
flight time to Israel, the of- fense was “ironclad” and statement after the call. sures now and in response