Israel braces for Iran attack
U.S. moves warships into place
President Joe Biden says the U.S. is “devoted” to defending Israel and “Iran will not succeed.”
Israel is bracing for a possible Iranian attack after an airstrike killed two Iranian generals in Syria last week. Iran has blamed Israel for the airstrike and vowed revenge. Israel has not commented on the strike.
Biden answered a couple of shouted questions at the White House yesterday, after delivering a virtual speech to the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Convention on racial justice in New York.
Asked what his message was for Iran, the president’s only reply was: “Don’t.”
He was asked about the possibility of deploying additional U.S. troops to the Middle East and said, “We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel.”
“We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed,” Biden added. He ignored a question about what would trigger a direct U.S. military response.
Asked how imminent an Iranian attack on Israel was, Biden said he didn’t want to get into secure information, “but my expectation is sooner than later.”
The apparent Israeli airstrike and promised Iranian retaliation has raised concerns about the U.S. being pulled into deeper regional conflict.
Since the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza began six months ago, there have been neardaily exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group along the IsraelLebanon border.
U.S. officials have recorded more than 150 attacks by Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria on U.S. forces at bases in those countries since war began on Oct. 7.
One attack in late January killed three U.S. service members in Jordan. In retaliation, the U.S. launched a massive air assault, hitting more than 85 targets at seven locations in Iraq and Syria. There have been no publicly reported attacks on U.S. troops in the region since that response.
Israel’s military says it has prepared plans to respond to a possible Iranian attack.
The army’s spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said late yesterday that Israel is ready for a “wide variety of scenarios” that include both defensive and offensive actions. He also said that Israel’s military chief has completed a situation assessment with the head of the U.S. Central Command, Gen. Erik Kurilla, who is visiting Israel.
“Our defenses are ready and know how to deal with every threat separately,” Hagari told reporters. “Next to defense, we are prepared to attack. We are ready to attack with a range of capabilities and we know how to act and protect the people of Israel.”
Iran has a number of proxy groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that are all capable of striking Israel. Iran also possesses longrange missiles that can reach Israel. Israeli leaders have threatened to strike Iran directly if it attacks.
Hagari said the visit by Kurilla is meant to “guarantee that the coordination between us is tight.”
The Wall Street Journal reported late yesterday that the U.S. rushed warships into position to protect Israel and American forces in the region, hoping to head off a direct attack from Iran on Israel that could come as soon as yesterday or today.
The WSJ added that the U.S. moves included repositioning two destroyers, one of which was already in the region and another that was redirected there, U.S. officials said, adding that at least one of the vessels carried the Aegis missile-defense system.