Senior Israeli officials said U.S. President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and informed him that he planned to delay what seemed like an imminent attack on Syria

Senior Israeli officials said U.S. President Barack Obama called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday and informed him that he planned to delay what seemed like an imminent attack on Syria, roughly four hours before his speech at the White House.

“Obama also told Netanyahu that he would relegate the matter to Congress, and ask for a congressional vote on any military action,” they said, according to Haaretz.

In contrast to phone calls made to other world leaders, the White House decided to keep this specific call between Netanyahu and Obama a secret, and not make any announcements to the press.

Senior Israeli officials stated that the talk between Obama and Netanyahu was aimed at coordinating both states' next moves regarding Syria. Roughly two weeks ago, senior U.S. government officials promised their Israeli counterparts that the Zionist entity would be notified hours in advance of any possible attack on Syria, so as to provide ample time for Israeli defense preparations against possible missile fire from Damascus.