Israel vows targets strikes on Iran military, spares nuclear, oil sites

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured U.S. President Joe Biden that any Israel retaliatory strikes against Iran would focus solely on military targets, steering clear of Iran’s nuclear or oil infrastructure, according to U.S. officials.

The discussion followed heightened tensions after an Iranian missile attack on Israel, which was itself a response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. While the White House’s public statement emphasized U.S. support for Israel’s security, it did not mention Israel’s military plans.

Amid this escalation, Israel remains locked in a broader conflict with Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed group in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza. In the latest developments, Israel launched airstrikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, killing dozens of militants, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Netanyahu vowed that Israel “will continue to strike Hezbollah without compassion,” targeting even locations in Beirut.

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Meanwhile, Israeli air defenses intercepted attacks launched from Lebanon, underscoring the rising threat Hezbollah poses, with over 60 Israeli deaths from rocket fire in the past year. Despite this, most of the missiles have been intercepted or caused minimal damage.

As Israel confronts Hezbollah in Lebanon, the war in Gaza against Hamas continues into its 13th month, following the October 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to a long, bloody counteroffensive. The conflict in Gaza has claimed over 42,000 Palestinian lives, with Israel continuing its operations while also ordering evacuations from northern Gaza.

With the added complexity of Hezbollah and Hamas being Iranian proxies, Israel’s restraint in sparing nuclear and oil sites in Iran reflects a calculated approach amidst intensifying regional strife.