The American administration and Congressmen are anticipating a potential Israeli response to the rocket and drone attack launched against it by Iran overnight on Saturday.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, former American officials agreed on the need to avert a broader military escalation in the region.
The attack managed to unify the ranks of Democratic and Republican legislators in support of Israel, with voices that were critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza dying down.
Concern and anticipation
Former US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Joseph Votel expressed his deep concern over Iran waging attacks against Israel from its own territory.
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said: “It is very concerning that Iran appears to have launched attacks from their own territory. I now believe that Israel feels, given the size and scope of the attack launched against them, that they must respond.”
“I am concerned, as others are, that this will lead to another round of escalation and a broader regional conflict - leading to more instability,” he added.
“I think the US reaction is appropriate at this point - strong support in defending Israel but emphasizing the need not to expand the conflict and get this situation back into the diplomatic channels,” Votel went on to say.
Former Assistant Secretary of State for political-military affairs General Mark Kimmitt told Asharq Al-Awsat: “I am hoping that President Joe Biden and the Israeli War Cabinet can prevent Prime Minister Netanyahu from escalating the situation further.”
Former strategy and policy director for Qatar and Kuwait in the Pentagon Adam Clements said: ““The level of sophistication and volume of drones and missiles in a direct Iranian response sets a new precedent in the current shadow war between it and Israel.”
“Israel must have known Iran would need to respond in a way to ‘save face’ in response to the bombing of its diplomatic facilities in Syria. It is telling that Iran has already publicly signaled its intention to not escalate the situation further,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
On the American stance on the situation, he warned: “An escalation in the conflict is detrimental to the security and economic development of the entire region.”
“The US response should be viewed as not only its commitment to helping Israel defend itself, but to also to protect the wider region from further conflict,” he stressed.
Former advisor for Iran to ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Gabriel Noronha said Iran's launching over 300 drones and missiles against Israel was a significant escalation and since the drones and missiles originated from Iranian territory.
“The attack is estimated to have cost Israel over a billion US dollars in defensive weapons used to intercept the incoming munitions. But Iran doesn't appear to have actually killed any Israelis or hit any significant targets,” he noted to Asharq Al-Awsat.
“This remains a tactical win for Israel who demonstrated the vast superiority of their defensive infrastructure and demonstrates the limits of Iranian capabilities to actually hold Israel at risk,” he stated.
Moreover, Noronha added that “the Biden administration doesn't feel any need for the United States to respond kinetically to the attack considering that it did not directly harm US personnel or infrastructure, but also is trying to have Israel limit its response to Iran.”
“Israel, however, still feels the need to respond to this attack because it cannot leave the impression that Iran can launch such a massive attack without repercussions. Ideally, Israel will find a way to demonstrate its determination in a way that continues to keep pressure and diplomatic scrutiny on Iran,” he said.
Vottel and other former officials contacted by Asharq Al-Awsat agreed that the current phase will be marked by anticipation of the Israeli response. This uncertainty, however, was not reflected at Congress, where reactions were firmly in support of Israel.
Unified stances
There can be no doubt that the Iranian attack unified Democratic and Republican ranks in support of Tel Aviv, erasing any criticism or calls to limit assistance to Israel over the war in Gaza that has killed over 33,000 people in six months.
No sooner had news of the attack broken out than calls poured in at Congress to approve the frozen package of aid worth around 17 billion dollars.
Majority Leader of the US House of Representatives Steve Scalise was quick to announce a change the House’s schedule to consider legislation that supports Israel.
In a statement, he said: “In light of Iran’s unjustified attack on Israel, the House will move from its previously announced legislative schedule next week to instead consider legislation that supports our ally Israel and holds Iran and its terrorist proxies accountable.
The Iranian regime must know “there will be consequences for these attacks,” he added.
Biden in the crossfire
House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson called on the White House to deliver a “proper response”.
“The Biden administration’s undermining of Israel and appeasement of Iran have contributed to these terrible developments,” he said in a post on the X platform.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said such an attack by Iran would not have happened were former President Donald Trump still at the White House, accusing the Biden administration of lacking a policy of deterrence against Iran.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell urged Congress to approve the aid package as soon as possible, adding: “Tehran and its proxies are emboldened when they see divisions between the US and Israel.”
Meanwhile, Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had made scathing criticism against Netanyahu over the war on Gaza, was quick to change his tone and express his unwavering support to Israel and its people in wake of Iran’s attack.
“As Israel is under attack from Iran, we stand with Israel and its people, and the United States will do everything we can to support Israel’s defense against Iran,” he declared.
Firm American support
Democratic Senator Chris Coons, who had previously said he was open to imposing restrictions on military aid to Israel, changed tone over the weekend, and urged the House to “promptly pass this coming week the long delayed national security supplemental to ensure that our Israeli allies have everything they need to defend themselves from attacks by Iran and its proxies.”
Another Democrat, Senator Chris Van Hollen, said he condemned the Iranian attack on Israel and “supports Israel's right to defend itself against this aggression. I also stand with Biden in seeking to prevent an even wider conflict that engulfs the people of the entire region.”
The calls for restraint were not supported by everyone. John Bolton, National Security Adviser under Trump, told CNN the said the Biden administration and Israel must reestablish deterrence against Iran and urged Tel Aviv to respond to the attack.
“I think Israel should be looking at this as an opportunity to destroy Iran's nuclear weapons program,” he added, hoping that Biden would not persuade Netanyahu against making such a move.
