Biden told Netanyahu that the US will not participate in offensive operations against Iran

(Patria) - The US will not participate in any offensive operations against Iran, US President Joe Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a conversation, a senior administration official told CNN.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that America does not want a conflict with Iran, but that it will not hesitate to protect its forces and support Israel's defense. He calls on Iran to de-escalate the situation and stop all further possible attacks.

After talking with Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Joe Biden said that he condemns Iran's attack on Israel "in the strongest possible terms". Biden said that almost all drones and missiles launched from Iran were intercepted, adding that he will convene a meeting of G7 leaders.

Condemning the attack, the US President said in a White House statement that Iran was helped by its proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq.

"At my direction, to support the defense of Israel, the US military transferred aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the region over the past week. Thanks to these deployments and the extraordinary skill of our personnel, we helped Israel shoot down almost all incoming drones and missiles," Biden said.

Biden said that in a conversation with Benjamin Netanyahu, he reaffirmed America's commitment to Israel.

"I told him that Israel has shown an extraordinary ability to defend itself even from an unprecedented attack – sending a clear message to its enemies that they cannot effectively threaten Israel's security," Biden concluded.