Middle East on brink as Iranian attack looms large

The US Intelligence officials had assessed that Iran could launch a counter-attack soon in response to the killing of seven Iranians in an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1…reports Asian Lite News

Amid speculations of Iran’s retaliation to the Israeli strike on its embassy in Syria, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has vowed an “appropriate response” if Iran attacks his country’s territory.

“A direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran,” Gallant told US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on Thursday during a phone conversation on preparations for a possible Iranian retaliatory attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

During the conversation, Gallant detailed the Israeli preparations and emphasised that Israel “will not tolerate an Iranian attack on its territory”.

It was the second time the two officials had talked over the past week.

The US Intelligence officials have assessed that Iran could launch a counter-attack soon in response to the killing of seven Iranians in an Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1.

Earlier on Thursday, Commander of the US Central Command Michael Kurilla arrived in Israel for talks with Gallant and Herzi Halevi, the Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, to coordinate responses to a potential Iranian attack.

Khamenei called for ‘punishment’

 Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday said that the events in Gaza have left a bitter taste for Muslims around the world, media reports said.

“Bloody events in Gaza have left a bitter taste for Muslims around the world. They are attacking women, children and the elderly since Israel has failed to defeat Palestinian fighters,” Khamenei said during his Eid al-Fitr speech, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Iran’s supreme leader has also promised retaliation for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.

“By attacking our consulate in Syria, they have attacked our soil,” Khamenei said during his speech.

He said that the “evil” regime must and will be punished for the consulate attack.

Iran’s Vice President for Legal Affairs Mohammad Dehqan has said that the country would file a lawsuit against Israel for its deadly attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria.

On April 4, Iran said that Israel violated international law by attacking its consulate in Syria, killing 14 people.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken spoke to his Turkish, Chinese and Saudi counterparts in the last 24 hours, making clear that escalation in the Middle East is not in anyone’s interest, Al Jazeera reported citing the US State Department.

At the daily news briefing, US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller said Washington continues to be concerned about the risk of escalation in the region, specifically after threats made by Iran towards Israel.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, too, said he had spoken to his Iranian counterpart and made it clear that “Iran must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.”

“Today I made clear to Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian that Iran must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict. I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks,” the British Foreign Minister posted from his X handle.

Vowing to strictly respond to any attack by Iran, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant dialled US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and discussed preparations for the “possibility of a direct attack from Iran”, Al Jazeera reported.

“The security cooperation between Israel and the USA is powerful and unquestionable,” Gallant posted on X, echoing the words of Biden on Wednesday that the US’ “commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad”.

Earlier, US President Joe Biden stressed his country’s ‘ironclad’ support for Israel after Iran vowed to retaliate in the wake of the deadly air strike on the Iranian embassy in Syria.

“As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: ironclad. We’re going to do all we can to protect Israel’s security,” Biden said at a White House press conference alongside visiting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Wednesday.

According to Times of Israel, Biden stated that in their earlier Oval Office meeting, the two of them “addressed the Iranian threat, as they threaten to launch a significant attack on Israel”.

Iran blamed Israel for the April 1 strike on its consulate in Damascus, which killed senior members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Iranian government has since vowed a response.

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