Max Mazza and Will Vernon BBC News 11 April 2024, 01:33 BST
Updated 1 hour in the past
President Joe Biden has pledged America’s “ironclad” assist for Israel amid considerations that Iran might launch retaliation for the assault that killed a senior Iranian nationwide.
Biden warned that Iran was threatening a “vital assault” after Israel attacked the Iranian consulate in Syria 10 days in the past.
“We will do the whole lot in our energy to guard Israel’s safety,” he added.
Earlier Wednesday, the Iranian chief mentioned the Israeli assault in Damascus was tantamount to an assault on Iran itself.
“When they attacked our consulate space, it was like attacking our territory,” Khamenei mentioned in a televised tackle.
“Evil regimes should and will probably be punished.”
It will not be but clear what kind the retaliatory assault will take.
A direct assault by Iran on Israel dangers additional escalating the battle, and analysts say Iran doesn’t have the navy capability to face up to a severe confrontation.
A attainable various is an assault through an Iranian proxy like Hezbollah, which often carries out small-scale assaults in opposition to Israel from neighboring Lebanon.
On Sunday, Iranian officers warned that the Israeli embassy was “now not secure” and prompt the consulate constructing might be a goal.
Experts have additionally prompt that Iran might goal Israel with cyberattacks.
The assault on the Iranian consulate on April 1 left 13 individuals useless, together with senior Iranian navy officers.
Israel has not claimed duty for the assault, however is broadly believed to have been behind it.
Since then, U.S. and Israeli forces within the area have been on excessive alert.
Biden’s remarks got here Wednesday as he spoke to reporters on the White House alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“As I informed Prime Minister Netanyahu, our dedication to Israel’s safety in opposition to threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad — and let me say it once more, ironclad,” Biden mentioned.
His feedback got here a day after Biden referred to as for a ceasefire in Gaza in an interview and mentioned he disagreed with Netanyahu’s conflict technique.
“I believe what he is doing is fallacious. I do not agree together with his method,” he mentioned in an interview with Univision recorded every week in the past.
video caption,
Video: Biden says Prime Minister Netanyahu made a ‘mistake’ on Gaza
It additionally comes practically every week after a tense telephone name between Biden and Netanyahu in response to Israel’s killing of seven humanitarian help staff within the Gaza Strip.
Mr. Biden has turn out to be more and more vocal about Israel’s actions within the practically six-month conflict that started with the Oct. 7 Hamas assault, expressing rising dissatisfaction with Mr. Netanyahu.
U.S. officers are attempting to ship a message to Iran that regardless of Biden and Netanyahu’s disagreements, any assault on Israel will probably be met with an aggressive U.S. response.
According to Axios, the international ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq met with their Iranian counterparts this week in a bid to ease tensions.
Ministers have been requested to ship a message from Biden’s senior Middle East adviser, Brett McGuirk, about the necessity to de-escalate tensions.
More than 33,000 individuals, principally girls and kids, have been killed within the Israeli invasion, in accordance with the Hamas-run Gaza well being ministry.
The battle was sparked by Hamas assaults in October that killed greater than 1,200 individuals and took 253 hostages in Israel.