Biden Anticipates Imminent Attack by Iran
US President Joe Biden expects that Iran will attack Israel “sooner rather than later.” At the same time, he warned the regime in Tehran clearly of retaliatory action. The German Foreign Office has urged Germans to leave Iran.
According to US President Joe Biden, he anticipates an Iranian attempt to attack Israel shortly. He stated that he did not want to disclose confidential information but said, “I expect it will be sooner rather than later” to reporters after an event.
When asked by a journalist about his message to Iran, he responded, “Don’t.” The 81-year-old President made it clear that he stands with Israel. “We are committed to the defense of Israel,” he emphasized. “We will assist in defending Israel, and Iran will not succeed.” Biden did not answer the question of when the US would directly intervene militarily.
Two top generals dead
Since an alleged Israeli attack on the Iranian embassy compound in Damascus in early April, the government in Tehran has threatened retaliation. Among others, two generals and other members of the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard were killed in the attack.
As usual in such cases, Israel has not confirmed responsibility for the strike. Iran openly supports the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip on October 7 with a major assault on Israel.
USA bolster military presence
A counterattack by Iran against Israel could dramatically escalate the conflict in the region. Therefore, the USA announced on Friday that they would strengthen their military presence in the region. A US defense official confirmed this to the dpa news agency.
“We are moving additional assets into the region to enhance regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces,” the official stated. It remained unclear which assets were involved and where the relocation was taking place.
Pentagon: Threat is “tangible and real”
Before addressing the press, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reaffirmed that the USA still considered the potential threat from Iran to be “tangible and real.” The USA would continue to support the Israelis in their defense and ensure that their forces in the region are “properly prepared.”
The close relationship between Israel and the USA was also emphasized by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after a meeting with US Central Command commander Michael Erik Kurilla. Gallant said, “We stand side by side. Our enemies think they can drive a wedge between Israel and the United States, but the opposite is true – they bring us together and strengthen our relationships.”
Germans urged to leave Iran
Given the threat situation, the German Foreign Office in Berlin has urged all German citizens in Iran to leave the country. Simultaneously, it warned against traveling to Iran. “The current tensions in the region, especially between Israel and Iran, pose the risk of sudden escalation,” the Foreign Office stated.
Accordingly, the security situation could deteriorate rapidly and without warning. “It cannot be ruled out that an escalation could also impact air, land, and sea transport routes, with possible disruptions to entry and exit from Iran,” it further added.