With tensions in the Middle East at an all-time high, President Joe Biden and other high-ranking defense officials are meeting today in anticipation of Iran attacking Israel.
According to Fox News, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with his counterpart in Israel Sunday to reiterate U.S. support for the Jewish state as tensions escalate with Iran, threatening a wider regional war after 10 months of fighting Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip.
Austin and Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant discussed U.S. force posture moves that the Defense Department is taking to bolster protection for U.S. forces in the region, support the defense of Israel, and deter and de-escalate broader tensions in the region, according to readout from the Pentagon.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting Sunday that Israel is already in a “multi-front war” with Iran and its proxies.
Tensions in the region are already at all-time highs after last week’s killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon and Hamas’ top political leader in Iran. Iran and its allies have blamed Israel and threatened retaliation. Hamas said it has begun discussions on choosing a new leader.
Netanyahu said Israel was ready for any scenario. Jordan’s foreign minister was making a rare trip to Iran as part of diplomatic efforts — “We want the escalation to end,” Ayman Safadi said.
According to Axios, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly told his counterparts on Sunday that Iran and Hezbollah could attack Israel as early as today.
And, according to the Times of Isreas, Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is expected to arrive in Israel today to coordinate preparations for the anticipated attack.
IDF officials remain steadfast and confident that Isreal is prepared for any attack from Iran.
“For years, Iran has been arming and financing terrorist organizations across the Middle East, including smuggling explosives into Israeli territory for terror attacks against civilians,” IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement reported by Fox News. “The IDF and ISA have already thwarted numerous attacks in which Claymore type explosives were smuggled into the country’s territory. We are determined to continue acting against Iranian terrorism wherever it may be.”
The bloody war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ attack on Israel last October that killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 people hostage.
Israel’s retaliation has led to the deaths of nearly 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Heavy airstrikes and ground operations have caused widespread destruction and displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million people.
We will continue to monitor the situation between Israel and Iran.