Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks at the coffins of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps killed in the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy compound in the Syrian capital Damascus during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 4, 2024. Iranian Supreme Office
WANA news agency | Via Reuters
Iran launched attacks on Israel on Saturday, according to US officials, escalating long-standing tensions between the two countries that could trigger a regional war.
“Iran has launched an airborne attack against Israel. President Biden is regularly briefed on the situation by his national security team and will meet with them this afternoon at the White House,” according to a statement from the NSC spokesperson , Adrienne Watson. “President Biden has been clear: our support for Israel’s security is unwavering. The United States will stand with the Israeli people and support their defense against these Iranian threats.
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said Saturday that Israel would work “in close coordination” with the United States and its regional partners to intercept the launches.
“We are monitoring the threat in the airspace. It is a threat that takes several hours to reach the territory of the State of Israel,” he added.
Tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated since the start of the Gaza war in October, and particularly in recent weeks after Iran accused Israel of carrying out an attack on its consulate in Damascus on October 1. april.
Iranian leaders, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have pledged to retaliate against Israel following the Damascus attack and Israel, in turn, has threatened to launch its own counterattack. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the Damascus attack.
“If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will react and attack in Iran,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on Wednesday. job on X, identifying the Ayatollah’s account
Given Iran’s various warnings, the White House expected an Iranian strike and was communicating with Israel to ensure they would be prepared to defend themselves.
Before Saturday’s attacks, President Joe Biden was on his way to the White House, earlier than originally planned, to meet with his national security team, including Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a context of growing prospect of conflict. Iranian strike.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard seized a Portuguese-flagged cargo ship with connections to Israel in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route. The White House condemned the decision shortly afterward.
“Seizing a civilian vessel without provocation constitutes a blatant violation of international law and an act of piracy by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a designated foreign terrorist organization,” National Security Council spokesperson said. Adrienne Watson, in a press release. job on X.
Before the attack, Israel also announced that starting Sunday it would close schools and limit gatherings to 1,000 people in certain areas.
This is breaking news. Please check again for updates.
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