Military coalition, the key –

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli government yesterday credited an international military coalition with helping thwart a direct Iranian attack with hundreds of drones and missiles, calling the coordinated response a starting point for an “alliance.” “strategic” regional opposition to Tehran.

But Israel’s War Cabinet met yesterday without making a decision on next steps, an official said, as a nervous world waited for any sign of a worsening of the conflict.

The military coalition, led by the United States, the United Kingdom, France and, reportedly, several Middle Eastern countries, supported Israel at a time when it is isolated by the war it wages against Hamas in Gaza.

The coalition could also serve as a model for regional relations when that war ends.

“This was the first time such a coalition worked together against the threat from Iran and its proxies in the Middle East,” said Israeli army spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

One unknown is which neighbors of Israel participated in the downing of the vast majority of some 350 drones and missiles launched by Iran.

Israeli military officials and a key member of the War Cabinet referred to additional “partners” without naming them.

When asked, White House national security spokesman John Kirby did not name them either.

However, one would be Jordan, which said it acted in self-defense.

There was an assessment that “there was a real danger” of “Iranian missiles falling in Jordan, and the armed forces confronted this danger. And if this danger came from Israel, Jordan would take the same action,” said Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi during an interview on the official Al-Mamlaka television station.

US President Joe Biden spoke with Jordanian King Abdullah II on Sunday.

The United States has long sought to forge a regional alliance against Iran as a way to integrate Israel and boost ties with the Arab world.

The initiative has included the 2020 Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and four Arab countries, and having Israel in the Central Command of the US military, which oversees operations in the Middle East and works closely with the armies of the moderate Arab countries.