WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is confident it has received commitments from Israel that it will refrain from targeting Iranian nuclear or oil facilities. This comes as Israel seeks to respond to Iran’s recent missile attacks, which occurred earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Furthermore, the U.S. believes that the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel, along with the addition of about 100 American soldiers to operate it, has alleviated some of Israel’s worries regarding potential Iranian retaliation and broader security threats.
On Sunday, the Pentagon confirmed the deployment of the THAAD system, aimed at strengthening Israel’s air defense in light of Iran’s missile assaults on Israel this past April and October. This decision was made under the direction of President Joe Biden.
Despite these assurances, the unnamed U.S. officials emphasized that these commitments are not guaranteed and that the situation remains fluid. They pointed out that Israel’s past behavior regarding such assurances has been inconsistent, often influenced by domestic political dynamics within Israel, which can lead to unpredictability in what the U.S. anticipates.