President Biden met with G7 leaders in an emergency session Sunday after reportedly telling Israel that the US would not take part in a counterstrike after Iran’s drone attack — and Iranian and Israeli authorities prepared for their next moves.
“President Biden spoke by secure video with the leaders of the G7 today,” the White House wrote in a post on X above a photo of the commander in chief and his top diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during the meeting, with other heads of Group of Seven countries appearing on a video screen behind them.
“The leaders condemned Iran’s unprecedented attack against Israel and reaffirmed the G7’s commitment to Israel’s security,” the post said, referring to the group of leaders from global powerhouses including the US, UK, France and Japan.
President Biden, right, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, center, speak with G7 leaders on Sunday. White HouseBiden also privately spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah II about the “unprecedented” attack, the White House said.
The UN Security Council held an emergency session, too, in which US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood warned, “Let me be clear: If Iran or its proxies take actions against the US or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible.”
UN Secretary Genearl Antonio Guterres pleaded for calm.
“The Middle East is on the brink. The people of the region are confronting a real danger of a devastating full-scale conflict. Now is the time to defuse and de-escalate,” he said at the session.
Hawkish Israeli government ministers had reportedly called for an immediate retaliatory strike after Saturday night’s attack on Israel, which saw hundreds of drones and missiles launched into the Jewish nation. Most of the armed drones were intercepted in the air.
But those plans were shelved in favor of more talks — after a phone call between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the New York Times.
Biden warned Netanyahu during the call that the US would not take part in a counterstrike against Iran, a senior administration has said.
Leaders around the world also swiftly issued statements condemning Iran’s actions but also expressing fears of a further escalation to the hostilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) holds a War Cabinet meeting on Sunday. Israeli Prime Minister Office/AFP via Getty ImagesBiden also told Bibi “that Israel demonstrated a remarkable capacity to defend against and defeat even unprecedented attacks — sending a clear message to its foes that they cannot effectively threaten the security of Israel,” the White House said in a statement.
Israel’s war cabinet was meeting Sunday as the regional war threatened to create further global chaos.
Ahead of the meeting, Israeli War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz vowed that his country would take actions it deems appropriate in response to Iran’s aerial onslaught.
Israel vowed to take action against Iran’s aerial attacks. AFP via Getty Images“We will build a regional coalition and exact the price from Iran in the fashion and timing that is right for us,” he said.
Biden convened a meeting of the G7 on Sunday “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack,” officials said.
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But in a saber-rattling statement, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned Israel and its allies against undertaking any “reckless behavior” in response to Saturday’s attack, during which approximately 99% of the 300 missiles and suicide drones were swatted down by Israel’s advanced “David’s Sling” air-defense system.
“If the Zionist regime or its supporters demonstrate reckless behaviour, they will receive a decisive and much stronger response,” Raisi said in a statement Sunday.
Biden will leave it up to Israel to decide how to respond to the attack. Shawn Thew / Pool via CNP / SplashNews.com
Biden convened the meeting to discuss a diplomatic response to Iran. Israeli Army/AFP via Getty ImagesBut Iran may have overextended itself with Saturday night’s opening salvo.
Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation” Sunday morning, CENTCOM Chief Ret. Gen. Frank McKenzie said Iran’s attack “was close to a maximum effort as they could generate,” adding, “Iran could not replicate last night’s attack tonight if they had to…Iran is relatively weaker than it was yesterday.”
The US has not identified any credible threats to its own security at the moment, a Biden administration official told CNN.
Speaking on “Good Morning America” on Sunday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Israel “demonstrated a superior military capability” in fending off the airstrike but expressed concerns that their response could lead to the conflict spreading.
“We don’t want to see the situation escalate further, we’re not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby said.
According to the Israel Defense Forces, Israel, along with its allies, thwarted Iran’s attack that included 170 drones, 120 ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles with an approximately 99% interception rate.






