Middle East: President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discuss attack on Iran in ‘direct’ call

President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the phone for the first time in weeks, a conversation that comes as Israel expands its ground incursion into Lebanon and considers how to respond to Iran’s recent ballistic missile attack.

Mr Biden’s call on Wednesday with Mr Netanyahu was “direct” and “productive” and included discussions on a potential attack on Iran, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

“It was 30 minutes long. It was direct, it was productive,” Ms Jean-Pierre said.

The leaders’ call came two days after the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel that led to the war in Gaza that has spread into a wider regional conflict.

It was the first conversation between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu since August 21.

Israel has been discussing how to respond to the Iranian missile barrage from October 1, which the United States helped to fend off.

Mr Biden last week said he would not support a retaliatory Israeli strike on sites related to Tehran’s nuclear program.

Israel’s other choices range from a largely symbolic strike similar to how Israel responded after Iran launched missiles and attack drones in April to hit oil facilities and other infrastructure.

Since the leaders’ last call seven weeks ago, Israel has carried out a brazen sabotage and assassination campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, where the militant group has continued to fire missiles, rockets and drones at Israel.

Israel is now undertaking what it has described as limited ground operations across its northern border with Lebanon to dig out Hezbollah.

Air strikes killed the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and decimated its leadership.

Last month, thousands of explosives hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah detonated, killing dozens of people and maiming thousands, including many civilians.

Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack.

The US has maintained a stepped-up troop presence in the region, to defend Israel and American interests in the Middle East.

Washington has grown increasingly vocal with Israeli officials about the need to be kept in the loop on their decision-making to ensure the protection of US forces.

Israel’s defence minister, Yoav Gallant, had been scheduled to meet with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday, but the Israelis postponed the visit, according to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.

Mr Netanyahu’s office also confirmed that the prime minister had recently spoken with former President Donald Trump.

Mr Trump, a Republican who is in the midst of a close White House race against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, called Mr Netanyahu last week and “congratulated him on the intense and determined operations that Israel carried out against Hezbollah,” according to Mr Netanyahu’s office.

with Reuters