‘Don’t,’ Biden warns Iran amid global jitters over likely attack on Israel
As Israel is bracing for an attack by Iran in retaliation for airstrikes on its consulate in Syria nearly two weeks before, US President Joe Biden renewed support for the Jewish state while launching a warning to Iran.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Biden advised Iran against attacking Israel. “Don’t,” he simply said, underscoring Washington’s commitment to defend its ally. “We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed. Thank you very much,” Joe Biden added.
His remarks came amid reports that Iran has readied more than 100 cruise missiles and as many drones to launch an attack at military targets inside Israel, ABC News and CBS News reported, citing US officials. The attack against Israel could be carried out by both Iranian forces and proxies that Iran supports.
Here are the top developments in this story:
Joe Biden said on Friday that he expected Iran to attack Israel “sooner, rather than later”, while refraining from sharing detailed security-related information to reporters at the White House.
US officials who mentioned Iran readying drones and missiles to attack Israel told CBS News that it would be challenging for the Jewish state to defend an attack of that magnitude. They, however, held out the possibility that Iran could go for a smaller-scale attack to keep larger military tension at bay.
United States Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael Erik Kurilla on Friday met Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi in Israel. Gallant’s office said the two sides discussed “readiness” for an Iranian attack, which “may lead to regional escalation”.
The US military repositioned two destroyers on Friday in the Middle East to help defend Israel and American forces in the event of a much-anticipated attack from Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported. One destroyer was already in the region while a second was redirected. One of the destroyers reportedly features the Aegis missile-defense system.
Several countries have issued travel advisories to their citizens and embassy officials in Israel amid an impending Iranian threat. France, Poland, Russia and India are some of the nations that have issued advisories. The US has asked its embassy officials and their family members to restrict travel outside Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Be’er Sheva in Israel.
Germany’s Lufthansa airline said it had suspended flights to and from Tehran until probably April 13. Lufthansa’s subsidiary Austrian Airlines also said on it was suspending all flights from Vienna to Tehran until April 18 in response to escalating tension in the Middle East.
Iran has reportedly signalled that their response to the April 1 airstrikes will be aimed at avoiding major escalation and won’t be done hastily. The message was conveyed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian to the US during a recent visit to Oman, news agency Reuters reported.