WASHINGTON, Oct 10, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu agreed Wednesday to stay in "close contact" as Israel mulls its response to Iran, with the US leader also urging the Israeli premier to "minimize" harm to civilians in Lebanon, the White House said. A White House readout of the call did not directly mention possible retaliation for an Iranian missile strike on Israel last week but said Biden had condemned Tehran's attack "unequivocally" and pledged "ironclad" support for Israel. Biden and Netanyahu also discussed Israel's offensive against Iranian ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, the White House said. The White House had earlier described the call lasting around 30 minutes as "direct," "honest" and "productive." But she would not comment on a new book by veteran US journalist Bob Woodward detailing growing tensions between Biden and Netanyahu.
