Tehran , Apr 13:
The US expects that Iran will carry out strikes against multiple targets inside Israel in the coming days and is prepared to help intercept any weapons launched at its ally, sources tell CNN, as the Biden administration is on high alert for what could be the eruption of a significantly volatile and unpredictable period in the Middle East.
President Joe Biden has predicted that Iran’s attacks were coming “sooner than later” and sought to once again issue a stern public warning, saying that his message to Tehran was simply: “Don’t.”
American ships and troops in the Middle East prepared for a likely Iranian attack on Israel on Friday, as President Joe Biden urged Tehran to change its mind.
Iranian leaders have vowed to “punish” Israel for the April 1 airstrike on the consulate in Damascus, Syria that killed seven officers of the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, including two of its generals.
At the White House Friday, Biden — responding to shouted questions from reporters including whether US troops were at risk — emphasized his administration’s commitment to Israel’s security.
“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” he said. “We will support Israel we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”
There remains a “real,” “credible” and “viable” threat of Iran launching strikes, the White House said Friday, following Israel’s attack on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria last week that killed three Iranian generals.
The US and several other countries, including Britain and France, issued new travel guidelines for government employees in Israel as the Iranian threat loomed.
However, a number of countries in the region where the US has bases or treaty rights have reportedly told Washington it can’t use them to strike Iran. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and Kuwait have denied the use of their territory and airspace so far, according to the Middle East Eye.
The beginning of a state-on-state conflict between Iran and Israel would mark a serious escalation in the region – a scenario that the US has hoped to avoid since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.
Iran plans to use regional proxies to mount a series of attacks on Israel following a deadly Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Syria, while signaling a willingness to de-escalate if Tehran’s demands are met, Reuters reported on Friday, citing Iranian sources.
“[Iran planned] to use regional proxies to launch a number of attacks on Israel,” a source familiar with US intelligence was quoted by Reuters as saying, adding that Tehran had been “very clear” that the response would be “controlled” and “non-escalatory.” Another Iranian source did not rule out the possibility that members of the Iran-backed Axis of Resistance military alliance could launch an attack on Israel at any time. The informal alliance includes Iran, Syria, Iraqi Shiite militias, Lebanon’s Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthi movement, whose common goal is to counter US and Israeli influence in the Middle East.
Other sources said Iran was showing signs of willingness to de-escalate if its demands were met, including a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, adding that the resumption of talks on its nuclear program was something Tehran was also seeking. Iran also wanted US assurances that it would not get involved in the event of a controlled attack, which Washington reportedly rejected.
On April 1, Israel carried out an airstrike on the consular annex of the Iranian Embassy in Damascus, destroying the building. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said seven of its members had been killed in the attack, including two commanders. Iran has vowed to retaliate against the Jewish state. UNI/SPUTNIK XC SSP NNN
