As Iran Strike Looms, Israel Hopes For "Abraham Alliance" With US, UK

 

As Iran Strike Looms, Israel Hopes For "Abraham Alliance" With US, UK

Netanyahu referred to the coordinated April defence in a controversial speech last week to a joint meeting of the US Congress, calling it a possible template for a NATO-accord he termed the "Abraham Alliance."

Israeli defence officials say they are coordinating with the US and UK ahead of an expected strike by Iran, setting the stage for a repeat of a similar attack by Tehran in April that was repelled by allies.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a statement Friday that he spoke with his American and British counterparts, Lloyd Austin and John Healey, and provided "a situational assessment in light of recent security developments."

Fear has risen of a spillover from the nearly 10-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza as Iran threatened retaliation for the assassination in Tehran this week of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of the Iran-backed group.

A similar spike in tensions about four months ago saw Iran and Israel trade direct fire for the first time. Almost 300 Iranian drones and missiles were fired but most were destroyed by air defences from Israel, the US and several allies. Israel's drone strike in response was contained and appeared symbolic to avoid escalation.

This time, Iran's response could be tougher, given the embarrassment of a foreign official and key ally being assassinated in the heart of its capital. Iran's options include further direct attacks on Israel, stepped-up attacks by Iranian proxies in the region, or attacks on Israeli targets elsewhere in the world.

Austin reiterated earlier this week that the U.S. "will certainly support the defense of Israel" in the event of an attack, and he met with Gallant to discuss measures to increase U.S. presence in the region, the Pentagon announced on Friday. . White House spokesman John Kirby previously said in an interview with CNN that the Pentagon was ensuring "adequate resources and capabilities" in the region, including both equipment and personnel.

"Very Direct" Call

Israel has yet to acknowledge that it was behind Haniya's murder, but has not denied the allegations. His death came hours after Israel killed senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden on Thursday committed "a new U.S. defensive military operation" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden later told reporters that in a "very direct" phone call, he urged the Israeli president to agree to a ceasefire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Biden is trying to spend his final months in office trying to end a war that has caused deep political divisions in the United States. He has tried to influence Netanyahu's war strategy, publicly and privately pressuring him, but has refused to use billions of dollars of U.S. military aid as leverage.

"In my meetings today with senior regional leaders, including Israel, we called on all sides to exercise restraint and de-escalate tensions at this critical moment," British Foreign Secretary Healy said in a statement. "We also call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and adequate support to ease the suffering in Gaza."

"Abrahamic Alliance"

While the destruction and death toll of Palestinians in Gaza have drawn international criticism, Netanyahu has focused on Israel and the existential threat to his country and the region from Iran and its proxies in the so-called Axis of Resistance, which includes Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both designated terrorist organizations by the United States, and the Houthis in Yemen.

In a controversial speech to a joint session of U.S. Congress last week, Netanyahu referred to the APR coordinated defense agreement and said it could be a template for a NATO agreement he called the "Abrahamic Alliance."

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