UPDATE - Biden says Israel should look at ‘other alternatives' than striking Iran's oil fields

ADDS MORE REMARKS BY US PRESIDENT

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Israel has not yet concluded how to respond to Iran's recent ballistic missile attack, US President Joe Biden said on Friday.

"The Israelis have not concluded what they're going to do in terms of the strike. That's under discussion.

"If I were in their shoes, I'd be thinking about other alternatives than striking oil fields," Biden told reporters at the White House.

Tensions between Israel and Iran have been high since Iran launched missiles into Israel earlier this week in retaliation for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel continues its air and ground attacks into Lebanon, while also conducting strikes in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed that Iran would "pay" for the attacks.

The US is in "constant contact" with Israel, Biden said.

"They're not going to make a decision immediately, and so we're going to wait to see what they, when they, want to talk," he added.

Asked whether he believes that the Israelis are going to listen to the advice the US is giving them, Biden said: "What I know is the plan that I put together received the support of the UN Security Council, the vast majority of our allies around the world, as a way to bring this to an end."

Stressing that Israel has "every right" to respond to the "vicious attacks" on it, the president warned that Israel has to be "very much more careful" about dealing with civilian casualties.

The president said "the main thing" to avoid all-out war in the region is to rally allies to "tamp this down."

About possible US sanctions on Iran, Biden, without giving further information, said: "That's been that's under consideration right now."

When asked whether he has any worries that Netanyahu may be trying to influence the upcoming presidential election, Biden said no administration has helped Israel "more than I have."

"And whether he's trying to influence election, I don't know, but I'm not counting on that," he added.

Biden said he is "confident" that the Nov. 5 election will be "free and fair."

"I don't know whether it will be peaceful," Biden said, expressing concern about Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's reaction if he loses.