Biden on Iran: “Leave it”
USA is moving more troops to the Middle East
April 12, 2024, 8:40 p.m
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Israel expects an Iranian attack within a few days. The USA also considers the threat to be “tangible and real” and is moving additional troops and military equipment to the region. US President Biden issues a clear warning towards Iran.
In view of a possible retaliatory strike by Iran against Israel, the USA is increasing its military presence in the Middle East. This was confirmed by a US defense official in Washington. “We are deploying additional assets to the region to strengthen regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for U.S. forces,” the official said. It remained unclear exactly what resources were involved and from where to where the transfer would take place.
US President Joe Biden warned Iran. When asked by a journalist what his message was to Iran, Biden said in Washington on Friday: “Leave it.” The US President said he expected an attack to happen “sooner rather than later.” But he did not want to comment on intelligence information. At the same time, the 81-year-old made it clear that he was on Israel’s side. “We are committed to the defense of Israel,” he emphasized. “We will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
Earlier, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the US still considered the potential threat from Iran to be “tangible and real.” On the one hand, the USA would support the Israelis in their defense and, on the other hand, ensure that its own armed forces in the region are “properly prepared”.
US Officials: Iran has large number of missiles ready
The American broadcaster ABC News reported citing US officials, the US is moving troops and other equipment to the Middle East because Iran has prepared a large number of missiles and drones for a possible attack on Israel. According to one of the officials, the relocated military equipment could contribute something to air defense.
Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently threatened Israel with retaliation for an attack attributed to the country on an Iranian consular building in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which 16 people were killed in early April. Among the dead were two generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and five other members of the elite force.
Iran is a declared supporter of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip with its major attack on Israel on October 7th. According to Israeli reports, around 1,170 people were killed in the attack and around 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip. Since then, Israel has taken massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 33,600 people have been killed so far.
Hezbollah reports massive shelling
Meanwhile, the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon, which is also supported by Iran, said it fired numerous rockets at Israeli positions. The militia said fighters fired on “enemy artillery positions” with “dozens of Katyusha rockets.” This was in response to Israeli attacks on villages and houses in southern Lebanon, it said. The Israeli army confirmed the attack and said that “about 40 launches” had been detected from Lebanese territory. Accordingly, some of the rockets were intercepted. According to the information, there were no injuries.
Lebanon’s state news agency also reported Israeli shelling of some villages not far from the border. Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, there have been almost daily battles between Israeli soldiers and fighters from the Hamas-allied Shiite Hezbollah militia in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.