By Janet Ekstract ISTANBUL – Both Turkiye and the U.S. conferred with Iran about seeking a de-escalation after Iran’s retaliatory attack on Israel for Israel’s strike April 1 on its consulate in Syria. On Sunday, diplomatic sources said Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan had spoken to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to express the need for de-escalation while his Iranian counterpart said there would be no further attack from Iran unless Israel decides to attack. Meanwhile, on Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the press that over a period of 36 hours, the U.S. was “coordinating a diplomatic response to seek to prevent escalation” after Saturday night’s multi-drone, missile attack on Israel which Israel said it was able to intercept 99% of incoming drones and missiles though shrapnel from the attack, seriously injured a 10-year-old Israeli girl. Blinken made it clear as did U.S. President Joe Biden, that the U.S. has no desire for any escalation and Biden told Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that the U.S. will not participate in an attack on Iran. Blinken said: “Strength and wisdom need to be different sides of the same coin,” and added that he’s in constant contact with his counterparts in the Mideast on an hour-by-hour basis. As Blinken further stated: “We don’t seek escalation but will continue to support the defense of Israel and protect our personnel in the region.” Iran had issued a statement over the weekend, stating that the matter is “concluded” but issued a stark warning to the U.S. to “STAY AWAY” and made it clear that the fight is between only Israel and Iran. CNN reported that Biden said “what this weekend demonstrated is that Israel did not have to and does not have to defend itself alone when it is the victim of aggression, the victim of an attack.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s war cabinet had just finished meeting late Monday afternoon, CNN learned from an Israeli official who said no details were forthcoming on any discussion or decision about a possible response from Israel to Iran. The war cabinet was meeting to discuss the timing and scope of a response on Iran’s attack on Israel, April 13. There are also diplomatic options the war cabinet is considering as well. Turkiye’s Fidan held a discussion via phone with U.K. Foreign Secretary David Cameron, highlighting the necessity of preventing further escalation between Iran and Israel, diplomatic sources said. On Sunday, Israel reported that about 350 rockets were fired Saturday night from Iran and its allies in Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon. During the attack, approximately 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles and more than 120 ballistic missiles were successfully intercepted at 99%, a military spokesperson said.
