Biden expects Iran to attack Israel ‘sooner rather than later’ but warns, ‘Don’t’

President Joe Biden said the US expects Iran to launch an attack againstIsrael “sooner rather than later” but warned Tehran against pressing ahead.

Such an attack would greatly inflame tensions in the Middle East, undermining efforts by Washington and its allies to prevent Israel’s war on Gaza from spilling into a wider regional conflict. The Israeli offensive in Gaza, which started in October, has killed more than 33,000 people so far and turned the Palestinian enclave into a wasteland of rubble.

Asked by reporters about his message to Iran, Mr Biden simply said: «Don’t.”

»We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed," he added.

Israel is braced for an attack in retaliation for last week’s strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus as Western capitals fear that an already volatile situation in the region could quickly spiral out of control.

Tel Aviv has said it is ready to defend against any reprisals over the 1 April strike that killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and six other Iranian officers.

Iran believes the attack was carried out by Israel, though Tel Aviv has not spoken about it. Tehran has vowed to respond.

Mr Biden said he would not divulge confidential information but added that his expectation was that an attack by Iran could come «sooner rather than later”.

The comments came as Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel „must be punished and shall be“ for an operation he said was equivalent to an attack on Iranian soil.

John Kirby, Biden’s national security communications adviser, said the US is looking at its own force posture in the region in light of Tehran’s threat and is watching the situation very