According to Axios, a senior U.S. military official is scheduled to travel to Israel on Thursday to collaborate on defense strategies in response to a potential attack from Iran. Last week, Israel conducted precise airstrikes on an Iranian diplomatic consulate in Damascus, Syria, resulting in the deaths of multiple members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC), including a high-ranking general from the Quds Force. While Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel, their specific plans remain undisclosed. In light of this, the United States has been assisting Israel in their defensive preparations, as reported by Axios, based on information from U.S. and Israeli officials.
Gen. Erik Kurilla, the head of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), is scheduled to hold discussions with high-ranking officials from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as well as Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Axios reported that Gallant had a conversation earlier in the week with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, while Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer had a separate discussion with State Secretary Antony Blinken.
Whoever or whatever was targeted adjacent to the Iranian embassy in the Mazzeh neighborhood of Damascus serves as a stark Israeli warning to Tehran regarding its nefarious activities against the Jewish state. pic.twitter.com/s9c5S1i9VU
— Joe Truzman (@JoeTruzman) April 1, 2024
Iran has the alternative of depending on its terrorist proxy forces across the Middle East to target Israel, in order to avoid direct involvement in a conflict. These proxies have been utilized by Iran to carry out attacks on U.S., Israeli, and Western forces in the Middle East since October 7th, when Hamas invaded Israel and caused the death of more than 1,200 civilians. This prompted a retaliatory response from Israeli forces.
According to Axios, Iran also has the option of directly attacking Israel by utilizing its own military, although this is a choice that is rarely exercised. In such a scenario, Iran would launch missiles from its mainland towards Israeli targets. Israeli officials have informed Axios that if Iran chooses this course of action, Israel will respond with its own strike.
Axios reports that Israel has requested assistance from the United States by urging Tehran not to take any action, both publicly and privately. Additionally, the U.S. and Israel are currently engaged in joint air and missile exercises in the Israeli region as a preparation for a potential Iranian attack. President Joe Biden, as reported by Axios, has issued a warning to Iran on Wednesday, cautioning against any escalatory measures.
“We also want to address the Iranian threat to launch a significant attack in Israel,” Biden said during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday. “As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is iron clad.”
