middle East
Biden expects an attack on Israel soon – Germans should leave Iran
Joe Biden warns Iran against attacking Israel
© ZUMA Wire / Imago Images
The situation in the Middle East is getting worse. The US sees an imminent attack by Iran on Israel. Several countries are calling on their compatriots to leave Iran.
US President Joe Biden expects an Iranian attack attempt soon Israel. He assumes “that it will be sooner rather than later,” Biden said on Friday. He also sent a clear warning to the leadership in Tehran. In view of the feared escalation in the Middle East region, the Foreign Office in Berlin reiterated its call for Germans to leave Iran.
Middle East: Joe Biden expects an escalation between Israel and Iran
The USA “will support Israel, we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” US President Biden emphasized again. Asked about his message for Iran, he replied: “Don’t do it,” referring to a possible attack. Biden had already assured Israel of the US’s “unwavering” support on Wednesday.
In view of a possible Iranian attack on Israel, the USA also announced that it would send reinforcements to the Middle East. “Additional resources” would be moved to the Middle East “to strengthen regional deterrence and increase the protection of US forces,” US government sources said. No information was initially given about the type of reinforcement.
Earlier, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the US still considered the potential threat from Iran to be “tangible and real.” On the one hand, the USA would support the Israelis in their defense and, on the other hand, ensure that its own armed forces in the region are “properly prepared”.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Office in Berlin reiterated its call for Germans to leave Iran. The ministry also referred to the travel warning for Iran, Israel and the Palestinian territories. “The current tensions in the region, particularly between Israel and Iran, pose the risk of a sudden escalation,” the Foreign Office said on its website. The security situation could deteriorate “quickly and without warning.” Other countries such as France have also warned their citizens against traveling to the region.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) said on Friday that the danger of possible actions by Iran was being taken “very seriously”. He and Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) did everything they could to provide information “so that military activities do not occur.”
The Chancellery announced that it was trying to play a mediating role for China in the escalating conflict. When asked about China’s involvement in de-escalation efforts, Scholz said: “We are talking broadly and in all directions.” Scholz arrives in China this weekend for a three-day visit.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had previously called on China, as well as other states such as Saudi Arabia, to influence Iran in order to prevent an escalation. China, in turn, said it insisted that the USA had to play a “constructive role” in the conflict.
Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened Israel on Wednesday with retaliation for an attack attributed to Israel on an Iranian consular building in the Syrian capital Damascus that killed 16 people in early April. Among the dead were two generals of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and five other members of the elite force.
Iran threatens Israel
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz warned: “If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack Iran.” Defense Minister Joav Gallant made similar comments.
Region in turmoil
Who is on whose side in the Middle East?
Because of the tensions, Lufthansa canceled its flights to the Iranian capital Tehran until next week. “Due to the current situation, after careful evaluation, Lufthansa is suspending its flights to and from Tehran until Thursday, April 18th,” said a company spokesman on Friday evening. The airline also no longer uses Iranian airspace. Lufthansa had already suspended its flights to Tehran in the past few days.
Iran is a declared supporter of the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip with its major attack on Israel on October 7th. According to Israeli reports, around 1,170 people were killed in the attack and around 250 others were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.
Since then, Israel has taken massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 33,600 people have been killed so far.
Both Iran and Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the USA, have claimed the destruction of Israel as their goal. The Shiite Hezbollah militia in Lebanon and the Houthi militia in Yemen are also supported by Iran and allied with Hamas.