U.S. works to deter Iran from attacking Israel – Officials
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – High-level U.S. officials worked urgently behind the scenes to pressure Iran to back down from its threats to launch a retaliatory strike against Israel following Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria, ABC News said on Friday.
Simultaneously, the U.S. was moving troops and other assets to the Middle East for a potential Iranian strike against Israel, ABC News said, citing U.S. officials.
On April 1, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, which is adjacent to the main embassy building, killing five officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and two generals, including Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi, commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon.
According to one U.S. defense official, the assets being moved to the region include ships and aircrafts.
Additionally, two U.S. officials said that Iran has readied more than a hundred cruise missiles for a possible strike.
For his part, U.S. president Joe Biden told reporters Friday that he expects an Iranian strike on Israel to occur “sooner than later”.
“We are devoted to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.
Earlier Friday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the top priority of the U.S. administration is ensuring Israel is able to defend itself from a potential Iranian attack.