"Israel does not give the U.S. a clear answer on whether Iran will hit its nuclear facilities."

Photo Source: Yonhap News

A senior U.S. official says Israel, which has vowed to retaliate against Iran's missile strikes, has not said with certainty that it will exclude strikes at Iranian nuclear facilities from its options.

According to CNN on the 4th, the top U.S. State Department official has not confirmed to the Joe Biden administration that Israel does not consider targeting Iranian nuclear facilities in retaliation for ballistic missile attacks.

For now, there is a scenario in which Israel could attempt to assassinate a powerful figure or destroy air defense systems, along with striking oil and oil refineries that prop up Iran's economy.

However, some predict that Israel could launch a direct attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, which it has long been wary of as a long-term threat.

A senior State Department official told CNN he was "really unaware" of the observation that Israel could use the upcoming 7th, a year after Hamas' raid, as a retaliatory "D-Day."

However, considering the significance of the anniversary for Israel, he said, "you will want to avoid seven days," adding, "If anything happens, it is likely to be around that time."