The US imposed travel restrictions on embassy employees in Israel over concerns that Iran might launch an attack. Staff at the American Embassy in Israel were warned not to travel outside Jerusalem and its surroundings, as well as the Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva regions “just in case”.
ISRAEL: “IF IRAN ATTACKS, WE WILL RESPOND”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told his American counterpart Lloyd Austin that they would “respond appropriately” to any attack carried out by Iran “on the country’s territory”.
13 people lost their lives in Israel’s attack on the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, the capital of Syria, 11 days ago.
Iran announced that it would retaliate after the attack.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called his Iranian counterpart Hussein Emirabdullahiyan and called on his country not to escalate tensions further.
Although it did not claim responsibility, Israel is believed to have carried out the attack in Damascus.
Iran supports the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which carried out attacks in Israel on October 7, and the Hezbollah organization in Lebanon, which also frequently targets Israel.
Among those killed in the attack in Damascus, which was carried out at a time when diplomatic efforts to spread the Israel-Hamas war were accelerating, was a senior commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon and other military officials.
BIDEN WARNED IRAN
US President Joe Biden warned Iran in a statement on Wednesday and promised “unwavering support” to Israel if it comes under a major attack.
American Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla also went to Israel and held meetings with senior officials on the security threat. Kurella is the commander in charge of US operations in the Middle East.
The US Department of Defense (Pentagon) announced that Kurilla’s visit was planned in advance, but its date was moved earlier due to “recent developments”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also called the Foreign Ministers of China, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye; He said that it is not in the interest of any country to increase tension in the region.
According to information obtained from diplomatic sources, in the telephone conversation between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan and Antony Blinken, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and issues related to regional security were discussed.
On Sunday, a senior Iranian official warned that “Israel’s embassies are no longer safe.”
German airline Lufthansa has suspended its flights to Tehran, the capital of Iran, until tomorrow.
In the attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel on October 7, 1200 people lost their lives and more than 250 people were taken hostage.
According to Israel, 34 of the hostages lost their lives and 130 are still in Gaza.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza, which has been under the control of Hamas since 2006, announced that more than 33 thousand people, most of them civilians, lost their lives in the attacks carried out by Israel since October 7.