Joe Biden has warned Iran not to launch an attack on Israel, in retaliation for a strike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, Syria.
The US President fears that a strike is imminent and stated that their support towards Israel was “ironclad” and Washington will do “all we can” to protect it from an attack by Tehran.
US intelligence officials believe the attack would involve “high precision missiles” directly from Iran, rather than an attack through a proxy such as Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We're going to do all we can to protect Israel's security,” he said during a press conference in the White House Rose Garden.
The conference was co-held with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumi, where the pair discussed “developments in the Mideast including our shared support for a cease-fire and a hostage deal, and urgent efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza”, according to Biden.
The US President also said that they both wanted to “address the threat” posed by Iran and said Tehran is “threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel”.
On Wednesday, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader, said the Damascus strike was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself.
“When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory,” he said in a televised speech.
“The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished.”
More to follow...