Middle East

Axios -  The Biden administration has grown increasingly distrustful of what the Israeli government says in recent weeks about its military and diplomatic plans... The worsening trust crisis is magnified by Israel's planned retaliation against Iran for its massive missile attack, which requires coordination with the U.S. in case Iran responds.  The Biden administration isn't opposed to Israel responding to the Iranian attack last week — but wants it to be measured, U.S. officials said.

• "Our trust of the Israelis is very low right now and for a good reason," one U.S. official said. Two U.S. officials told Axios that during a call on Friday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told Israel's minister for strategic affairs Ron Dermer that the U.S. expects "clarity and transparency" from Israel about its plans to retaliate against Iran, because it will have implications for U.S. forces and interests in the region. Sullivan was signaling that if the U.S. doesn't know what the Israelis are planning to do, it wouldn't automatically be on board to help defeat another Iranian missile attack against Israel, one official said. The U.S. officials admit that the U.S. would very likely help Israel defend itself regardless.