WASHINGTON--The White House praised Israel's restraint in the uncertain hours after an Iraqi missile attack on Tel Aviv yesterday, and some members of Congress said they could sympathize with Israel if it counterattacked.

President Bush met with his war planners at the White House shortly after a Scud missile struck a residential section of the Israeli city, with a toll of three dead and at least 70 wounded.

"We condemn this brutal act of terror against innocent victims," White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater said.

"Israel has shown remarkable restraint in the face of this aggression. We continue to consult with the government of Israel and will continue doing so as events unfold," he said.

"A nation clearly is on the firmest ground when they are defending their own people," said Sen. Phil Gramm (R-Texas).

"They have an absolute right to respond," said Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass).

At the Israeli Embassy, Ambassador Zalman Shoval declined to rule out a retaliatory strike but also said a response from Israel "would not necessarily have the character of retribution." He said "it's not necessarily eye for and eye" but how best to protect the Israeli people.

Bush reviewed the status of the war with Vice President Dan Quayle, Secretary of State James A. Baker III, Defense Secretary Dick Cheney and his top national security advisers.

"The president expressed confidence in the military's performance," Fitzwater said.

Saddam also has fired a handful of missiles at Saudi Arabia.

U.S. officials puzzled over why Saddam powerful military was not putting up much of a fight and expressed frustration over the lack of information about damage inflicted against his forces.

"The truth is, we don't know why Saddam has chosen to react in the way he has," Fitzwater said.

Baker twice telephoned Lawrence Eagleburger, the deputy secretary of state who has been in Israel since the weekend, to discuss the attack, a U.S. officials said.

Pentagon briefers told Congress that allied bombing raids were creating large craters at Iraqi air fields and interrupting command and control systems, but that the damage was being quickly repaired. Much of Saddam's military machine remained intact.

"The early euphoria has changed into an unease that this way take longer than we thought," said Rep. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.).