Concern about a major attack on Israel
USA prepares for Iran’s retaliation – and remains silent
April 12, 2024, 6:20 p.m
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Washington continues to fear an Iranian retaliation against Israel. The USA remains silent about what this might look like. Security advisor Kirby only makes cryptic hints. At the same time they are preparing for an attack.
The US government is reviewing its military posture in the region due to a possible retaliatory strike by Iran and has made “some adjustments”. It would be irresponsible not to do so, said National Security Council communications chief John Kirby. It would be about protecting US personnel and facilities in the region. Kirby did not provide any further details. “We still consider the potential threat from Iran to be (…) realistic, credible, and we are monitoring it as closely as possible.”
When asked, Kirby did not provide any information about a report that the US had brought military equipment to the Middle East. He also did not comment on reports that an attack was imminent or provide details about what a retaliatory strike might look like. “I’ve seen the reports and I can’t speak to what the intelligence tells us about the extent of this attack.” CBS reported that a retaliatory strike would potentially include more than a hundred drones and dozens of missiles that could hit military targets inside Israel.
“It’s a serious threat”
When asked why the US government – unlike before the start of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine – did not publicly share intelligence information, Kirby responded evasively. Nobody sits back, he emphasized. However, some conversations should not be held in public. “It’s a serious threat. We take it seriously.”
Kirby stressed that the US is doing everything it can to ensure Israel has everything it needs to defend itself. On Wednesday, President Joe Biden had already assured his ally Israel the “unwavering” support of the USA. Iran is threatening a “significant attack on Israel,” he said. “We will do everything we can to protect Israel’s security.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meanwhile called on China, Saudi Arabia and other countries to influence Iran to prevent escalation. The United States also restricted the movement of its diplomatic staff in Israel for security reasons. China, in turn, said it insisted that the USA had to play a “constructive role” in the conflict.
Travel warnings for Germans
The French Foreign Ministry called on its citizens to avoid traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian Territories. The decision to make a corresponding call by chief diplomat Stéphane Séjourné was made at a “crisis meeting,” diplomatic circles said. According to the Foreign Office, the Federal Government does not plan to further tighten travel and safety instructions. Travel warnings are currently in effect for Israel and the Palestinian territories, Iran and Lebanon. Germans in the Palestinian territories are also “recommended” to leave the country, and they are even “encouraged” to do so from Iran and Lebanon.
Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened Israel on Wednesday with retaliation for an attack attributed to Israel on an Iranian consular building in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed 16 people in early April. Among the dead were two generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and five other members of the elite force.