Israel Is Wary As Iran Threatens Retaliation for Attack on Syrian Consulate | Key Points
Israel is already on high alert in response to a recent fatal bombing in Syria, expecting its long-standing enemy Iran to retaliate. Amidst an ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas in Gaza, tensions between Iran and the United States have increased after an attack that claimed the lives of two Iranian generals. Iran has threatened retaliation.
In the meantime, Israel responded to a warning from Tehran by fortifying its air defences and putting military personnel on alert. In addition, the US cautioned that there was a chance Iran and its allies may launch an assault given the escalating Middle East tensions.
Following the April 1 assault on Iran’s embassy building in Damascus, Syria, which resulted in the deaths of seven members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including two high-ranking generals, and heightened tensions, Iran threatened to exact revenge.
Israel Promises a “Right Reaction”
An “appropriate response” has been pledged by Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in the event that Iran assaults Israeli land. Gallant informed US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin over the phone on Thursday that “a direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” according to Xinhua.
Gallant stressed that Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory” and went into detail on Israeli preparedness.
Biden’s “Unwavering” Advocacy For Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was informed, according to US President Joe Biden, that “our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad”.
According to the Pentagon, US Central Command chief Michael Kurilla also travelled to Israel on Thursday to speak with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant about the matter. Following Iran’s warning, the US embassy in Israel declared that it was limiting its diplomats’ travel due to security concerns. Staff members and their families were advised not to make personal trips outside of the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Beersheeva areas “until further notice” as a precaution.
