Biden Stands Behind Israel as Iran Tensions Escalate

(BrightPress.org) – On Wednesday, April 10th President Joe Biden promised “ironclad” support for Israel amid threats of retaliation from Iran for an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Syria on April 1st. The attack killed 13 people, including senior Iranian military leaders. Israel has not taken credit for the attack, but it is widely assumed Israel was behind it. Biden vowed the U.S. will do “all we can to protect Israel’s security.”

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced in a televised speech on Wednesday that Israel “attacked our territory” and “…must be punished, and it will be punished.” Analysts don’t believe Iran has the military capability for a “significant confrontation” and such confrontation would risk a “greater escalation” in the ongoing conflict.

It is possible that an Iranian proxy such as Hezbollah could attack. Hezbollah and Israel have been trading fire across the border from Lebanon since the war began. Joe Buccino, former Communications Director for the U.S. military’s Central Command, said in an interview with BBC that Hezbollah has the capability to do “significant damage” to Israel.

An Iranian news agency posted on X that all airspace over Tehran had been closed for “military drills.” The post was quickly removed and denied. There is concern that Tehran could be planning a drone strike on military and government targets in Israel. An Iranian official has warned that Israel’s embassies are “no longer safe” indicating a possible strike on an Israeli consulate building.

The U.S. military in the region along with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been placed on “high alert.” The Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs posted on social media that if Tehran were to attack Israel, Israel would react with an attack on Iran.

Biden vowed U.S. support for Israel one day following an interview being aired of Biden urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call for a six to eight-week ceasefire in Gaza to allow civilians access to greatly needed humanitarian aid.