JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) 鈥 President Joe Biden said Wednesday he will not support an Israeli strike on sites related to Tehran鈥檚 nuclear program in response to Iran's missile attack on Israel.
鈥淭he answer is no,鈥 Biden told reporters when asked if he would support such retaliation after Iran fired about 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday.
Biden鈥檚 comments came after he and fellow Group of Seven leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom spoke by telephone about coordinating new sanctions against Iran.
The U.S. and allies are scrambling to keep the 鈥 sparked by Iran-backed Hamas militants' in Gaza's Oct. 7 attack on Israel 鈥 from spreading further. They are urging Israel to show restraint as it weighs retaliation against Iran for Tuesday's attack.
Israel is now carrying out what it has described as across its northern border with Lebanon to dig out Hezbollah, another Iran-backed group, after carrying out a series of massive air strikes that killed the group's leader, and decimated its leadership.
Last month, thousands of explosives used by Hezbollah detonated, killing dozens of people and maiming thousands, including many civilians. Israel is widely believed to be behind the attack
Biden stated his opposition to Israel hitting Iranian nuclear facilities as Israeli Prime Minister weighed a in how to respond to Tuesday鈥檚 attack. It was the second such attack by Iran on Israel in less than six months.
Israel's choices range from a largely symbolic strike 鈥 similar to after Iran launched a barrage of missiles and attack drones in April 鈥 to hitting oil facilities and other infrastructure.
Targeting Iran鈥檚 controversial nuclear program is seen as perhaps the most provocative action that Israel could take. It's one that the Democratic president believes could further enflame a Mideast conflict that he already worries could develop into a broader regional conflict.
The White House said in a statement that G7 leaders 鈥渦nequivocally condemned Iran鈥檚 attack against Israel鈥 and that Biden reaffirmed America's 鈥渇ull solidarity and support to Israel and its people.鈥
Biden added that he supports Israel's right to defend itself and 鈥渢here are things that have to be done鈥 in response to the Iranian barrage. He said he expected sanctions from the G7 nations to be announced soon.
鈥淲e will be discussing with the Israelis what they are going to do,鈥 Biden told reporters before heading to the Carolinas to see the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. 鈥淎ll seven of us agree that they have a right to respond.鈥
The office of Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that the leaders expressed 鈥渟trong concern for the escalation of these last hours鈥 and emphasized that 鈥渁 conflict on a regional scale is in no one鈥檚 interest.鈥 Italy holds the rotating presidency of the G7 group of industrialized democracies.
Biden said that he planned to speak with Netanyahu "relatively soon.鈥
Biden's administration has signaled that it is urging Israel to display restraint in how it responds to Iran鈥檚 missile attack, which Biden said was 鈥渋neffective and defeated.鈥
The U.S. military helped Israel defend against the attack that Iran carried out in retaliation for the killing of Tehran-backed leaders of Lebanese Hezbollah.
Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said there 鈥渕ust be a return message鈥 to Iran. He said the U.S. and Israel officials continue to discuss their response.
鈥淎t the same time, I think we recognize as important as the response of some kind should be, there is a recognition that the region is really balancing on a knife鈥檚 edge,鈥 Campbell said at a forum hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Wednesday with his counterparts Britain, France, Germany, and Italy to discuss the situation in the Middle East.
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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Rome and White House Correspondent Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
