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| Biden vows 'ironclad' support for Israel amid Iran attack fears | Biden vows 'ironclad' support for Israel amid Iran attack fears |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Joe Biden has promised Israel "ironclad" US support amid fears that Tehran could launch reprisals for an attack that killed senior Iranians. | President Joe Biden has promised Israel "ironclad" US support amid fears that Tehran could launch reprisals for an attack that killed senior Iranians. |
| Mr Biden warned that Iran is threatening to launch a "significant attack" after Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Syria 10 days ago. | Mr Biden warned that Iran is threatening to launch a "significant attack" after Israel struck the Iranian consulate in Syria 10 days ago. |
| "We're going to do all we can to protect Israel's security," he added. | "We're going to do all we can to protect Israel's security," he added. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's leader said the Israeli attack in Damascus was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself. | Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's leader said the Israeli attack in Damascus was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself. |
| "When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech. | "When they attacked our consulate area, it was like they attacked our territory," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech. |
| "The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished." | "The evil regime must be punished, and it will be punished." |
| It is not yet clear what form any reprisal attack would take. | It is not yet clear what form any reprisal attack would take. |
| For Iran to strike Israel directly would risk an even greater escalation in the conflict, and analysts have said Iran does not have the military capability for a significant confrontation. | For Iran to strike Israel directly would risk an even greater escalation in the conflict, and analysts have said Iran does not have the military capability for a significant confrontation. |
| A possible alternative is an attack via an Iranian proxy like Hezbollah, which frequently carries out smaller strikes on Israel from neighbouring Lebanon. | A possible alternative is an attack via an Iranian proxy like Hezbollah, which frequently carries out smaller strikes on Israel from neighbouring Lebanon. |
| On Sunday an Iranian official warned Israel's embassies were "no longer safe", suggesting a consulate building could be a possible target. | |
| Experts have also suggested Iran could target Israel with a cyberattack. | Experts have also suggested Iran could target Israel with a cyberattack. |
| How might Iran seek to hurt Israel after general's killing? | How might Iran seek to hurt Israel after general's killing? |
| Can US pressure deliver Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza? | Can US pressure deliver Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza? |
| Biden pressure on Israel not enough, say dissenting US officials | Biden pressure on Israel not enough, say dissenting US officials |
| Thirteen people were killed in the 1 April attack on the Iranian consulate building, including senior Iranian military leaders. | Thirteen people were killed in the 1 April attack on the Iranian consulate building, including senior Iranian military leaders. |
| Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but is widely considered to have been behind it. | Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack, but is widely considered to have been behind it. |
| US and Israeli forces in the region have been put on high alert in the days since. | US and Israeli forces in the region have been put on high alert in the days since. |
| Mr Biden's remarks came as he was speaking to journalists at the White House on Wednesday alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. | Mr Biden's remarks came as he was speaking to journalists at the White House on Wednesday alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. |
| "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," Mr Biden said. | "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," Mr Biden said. |
| His comments come one day after Mr Biden, in an interview, called for a ceasefire in Gaza and said he disagreed with Mr Netanyahu's war strategy. | His comments come one day after Mr Biden, in an interview, called for a ceasefire in Gaza and said he disagreed with Mr Netanyahu's war strategy. |
| "I think what he's doing is a mistake. I don't agree with his approach," he said in an interview with Univision that was recorded a week ago. | "I think what he's doing is a mistake. I don't agree with his approach," he said in an interview with Univision that was recorded a week ago. |
| Watch: Biden says Netanyahu making 'a mistake' in Gaza | Watch: Biden says Netanyahu making 'a mistake' in Gaza |
| Watch: Biden says Netanyahu making 'a mistake' in Gaza | Watch: Biden says Netanyahu making 'a mistake' in Gaza |
| It also comes nearly a week after a tense phone call between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu in the wake of the Israeli killing of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza. | It also comes nearly a week after a tense phone call between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu in the wake of the Israeli killing of seven humanitarian aid workers in Gaza. |
| Mr Biden has sharpened his rhetoric over Israel's conduct in the nearly six-month-old war sparked by Hamas's 7 October attack, and voiced his growing frustration with Mr Netanyahu. | Mr Biden has sharpened his rhetoric over Israel's conduct in the nearly six-month-old war sparked by Hamas's 7 October attack, and voiced his growing frustration with Mr Netanyahu. |
| US officials have been attempting to send a message to the Iranians that, despite differences of opinion between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu, any attack on Israel will met with an aggressive US response. | US officials have been attempting to send a message to the Iranians that, despite differences of opinion between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu, any attack on Israel will met with an aggressive US response. |
| In an effort to ease tensions, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq spoke to their Iranian counterpart this week, according to Axios. | In an effort to ease tensions, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iraq spoke to their Iranian counterpart this week, according to Axios. |
| The ministers were asked to convey a message from Mr Biden's senior Middle East advisor, Brett McGurk, about the need to de-escalate. | The ministers were asked to convey a message from Mr Biden's senior Middle East advisor, Brett McGurk, about the need to de-escalate. |
| According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 33,000 people - mostly women and children - have been killed in the Israeli incursion. | According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, more than 33,000 people - mostly women and children - have been killed in the Israeli incursion. |
| The conflict was sparked by Hamas's killing of more than 1,200 people in Israel and the taking of 253 hostages in its October attack. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Israel | Israel |
| Gaza | Gaza |
| Iran | Iran |
| Benjamin Netanyahu | Benjamin Netanyahu |
| United States | United States |
| Joe Biden | Joe Biden |