Axios reports that Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant told Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Sunday that Israel has no choice but to respond to the unprecedented missile and drone attack launched by Iran over the weekend, a U.S. official and another source briefed on the call told Axios.
The Israeli war cabinet convened on Monday to discuss Israel's possible response.
Gallant told Austin in a phone call Sunday that Israel can't allow ballistic missiles to be launched against its territory without a response, the U.S. official and the source briefed on the call said.
The report went on to say that Israel won't accept an equation in which Iran responds with a direct attack every time Israel strikes targets in Syria, Gallant added.
The sources said Austin conveyed a similar message to the one President Biden gave Netanyahu on Saturday night, stressing the need to do everything possible to avoid further escalation.
The Pentagon and the Israeli ministry of defense said that Austin and Gallant also discussed efforts to establish an international and regional coalition against Iran.