“Avoid”: Biden cautions Iran as everyone is on edge due to an anticipated strike on Israel

Washington: In response to a suspected Israeli raid on the Iranian embassy in Syria that resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), US President Joe Biden issued a warning to Iran on Friday not to go forward with an anticipated attack on Israel. All Biden said was “don’t,” restating Washington’s resolve to protect Israel.

“We are committed to defending Israel. We’ll stand with Israel. Iran will not prevail, and we will assist in defending Israel,” he said to reporters. As fears of reprisal over the Damascus strike rose, scaring both Middle Eastern and Western nations, Israel readied itself on Friday for an attack by Iran or its proxies. The attack on April 1 was not attributed to Israel.

However, Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have repeatedly demanded retaliation and accused Israel of the strike that killed six additional officers and a senior commander in the overseas Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Although Biden said he would not provide sensitive intelligence, he did state that he expected an Iranian assault “sooner, rather than later.”

With a 48-hour strike anticipated, the US is on high alert.
According to a Wall Street Journal story on Friday, tensions between Iran and Israel are rising, and Iran is expected to strike Israel within the next two days. Meanwhile, Israel has been fighting Hamas in Gaza for six months with no end in sight. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s adviser said that the strike preparations are before the Supreme Leader, who is currently considering the political danger.

Ever since the purported assault in Damascus, the United States has been on high alert. According to the Wall Street Journal, Washington moved quickly to deploy warships to defend Israel and American personnel in the area in an effort to avert a potential direct Iranian strike on Israel that may occur as soon as Friday or Saturday. The strike has caused concern around the world because it may trigger a larger Middle East conflict that might include the US.

Russia, France, Poland, India, and other nations have forewarned their nationals not to come to the area, which is already uneasy because to the ongoing seven-month conflict in Gaza. Germany urged its people to leave Iran on Friday. According to John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House, Iran is apparently planning to strike Israel soon. The US is keeping a careful eye on the situation.

India issues a travel alert
For an extended period, Israel and Iran have been engaging in a covert conflict that has claimed lives on both sides and involves bombings, cyberattacks, backing for proxies, and targeted executions. The strike on Syria is a drastic escalation of hostilities that is likely to prolong the Middle East conflict between Israel and Hamas. In anticipation of the possibility of an assault on the Jewish nation, the US issued a travel alert for its citizens visiting Israel.

In the meantime, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has released a warning of its own, advising all Indians to stay away from Iran and Israel until further notice. Those Indians who are already living in Iran or Israel are asked to register with the Indian embassies in those nations.

“Until further notice, all Indians are urged not to go to Iran or Israel due to the current situation in the area. It is asked of everyone living in Iran or Israel at this time to register with the Indian embassies in those countries. Additionally, they are asked to take the greatest safety measures and limit their activity,” the message said.

Asaduddin Owaisi, the head of AIMIM, made a demand on Friday for the immediate return of Indian labourers who are now in Israel. He took aim at the NDA government in Central Asia, claiming that it is sending labourers from India to Israel despite a warning from the same administration that discouraged travel, citing security concerns.