Iran warns of retaliation against U.S. forces in the Middle East if Biden supports Israel militarily

By arseniotoledo // 2024-04-15

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Iran has issued a warning that it will begin targeting American troops in the Middle East if the administration of President Joe Biden decides to intervene militarily to support Israel following potential Iranian retaliatory attacks. Tehran has been threatening retaliatory strikes against Israel for two weeks now following an Israeli airstrike against the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria, which killed multiple members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC's special forces Quds Force units in Lebanon and Syria. (Related: Netanyahu convenes war cabinet as Israel prepares for "imminent" retaliation from Iran after airstrike against embassy in Syria.) At least three U.S. officials in recent days stated that Iran had sent warnings to the Biden administration through several intermediary Arab nations and it warns against the U.S. getting involved in expected fighting between Israel and Iran. The message to the Biden administration also makes it clear that Tehran views the U.S. responsible for the Israeli attack that killed Zahedi in Damascus. U.S. statements maintain that it had no involvement in the strike. But the Iranian message made it clear that it would see U.S. intervention in a possible conflict with Israel as confirmation of American involvement, and would then see U.S. bases in the Middle East as legitimate targets. "The Iranian message was 'We will attack the forces that attack us,' so, 'Don't f--- with us and we won't f--- with you," said one U.S. official.

U.S. working to help bolster Israeli defenses

Despite repeatedly claiming to be not involved in the airstrike in the Iranian embassy in Damascus, in the days since, Washington has been working overtime to help Israel prepare for the potential Iranian response – including providing more arms, helping bolster existing defenses and sharing intelligence. Biden and other senior U.S. officials have publicly pledged to support Israel against Iranian retaliatory strikes. "We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel," said Biden. "We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed." U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies now believe that an Iranian attack – whether that comes directly from Iranian forces or through Tehran's proxies in the Middle East – would include the launch of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and attack drones targeting military sites all over Israel. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has been busy communicating with his Israeli counterpart, Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. In their latest call on Thursday, April 11, Austin reportedly told Gallant that Israel "could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened," said the Pentagon in a statement. Gallant reportedly responded to Austin by saying that "a direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran." In exchange for U.S. support for Israeli defenses, U.S. officials say the Biden administration has demanded that Israel notify Washington and for the White House to have a say before decisions are made about any revenge attacks by Israel. Watch this clip from Fox News about the Wall Street Journal's April 11 report on how the Iranian retaliatory attack against Israel is expected in the next two days. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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U.S. working to help bolster Israeli defenses

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