The US predicts Iran may retaliate next week and is on high alert
Apr 06, 2024
Washington [US], April 6: A US official revealed that Washington is on high alert and actively preparing to respond to a 'significant' attack that Iran could conduct as soon as next week, targeting Israeli or US assets. In the area.
Tensions have risen with threats of a strong military response from Iran, after two of its generals were killed in an attack on a Tehran diplomatic building in the Syrian capital Damascus. earlier this week. Iran accused Israel of carrying out the attack, but Israel did not admit it.
CNN quoted the above US official as saying that senior officials in President Joe Biden's administration currently believe that Iran's military response is "inevitable" and Israeli officials also have a similar view. The two governments are trying to prepare for what is to come, as they predict Iran's attack could take place in many different ways, and both American and Israeli assets and personnel will be affected. there is a risk of becoming a target, according to this official.
Iran's upcoming attack was the main topic of discussion in the phone call between President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on April 4, according to CNN.
The above official said that as of April 5, the two governments still did not know when and how Iran planned to attack.
Reuters on April 6 quoted an unnamed US official confirming CNN's report, saying the US was on "high alert" and preparing to face an attack from Iran.
Another senior US official said US and Israeli teams "have been in regular and ongoing contact since then", and Washington "fully supports the defense of Israel against threats from Iran". , according to Reuters.
Iran's direct attack on Israel is one of the worst-case scenarios the Biden administration is preparing for, as it would lead to a rapid escalation of the already chaotic situation in the Middle East. Such an action could cause the war between Israel and Hamas to turn into a larger-scale regional conflict, a situation that Washington has long sought to avoid.
Iran has vowed to take revenge after an airstrike targeting the Iranian embassy area in Damascus, killing at least 7 people. According to Iran's Foreign Ministry, General Mohammed Reza Zahedi, the top commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and his deputy, General Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, were among those killed.
At least six Syrian citizens were also killed in the attack, according to Iranian state television.
Washington quickly informed Iran that the Biden administration had no involvement and had no prior knowledge of the attack, and warned Iran not to attack US assets.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper