The White House said Monday that the US is prepared to defend Israel from a “significant” Iranian reprisal attack as the US continues to bolster its forces in the region.
The US and Israel are expecting Iran to launch its response to the Israeli killing of Hamas’s political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, in Tehran, and think the attack could happen this week. Iran’s allies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi Shia militias, may participate in the operation.
“We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.”
The US helped defend Israel when Iran launched its first-ever attack on Israeli territory in April, which was provoked by the bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria.
“We obviously don’t want to see Israel have to defend itself against another onslaught, like they did in April. But, if that’s what comes at them, we will continue to help them defend themselves,” Kirby said.
A day earlier, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, that he had ordered the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group to be “accelerated.” He also told Gallant that the US is sending the USS Georgia, a guided-missile submarine.
“Secretary Austin reiterated the United States’ commitment to take every possible step to defend Israel and noted the strengthening of US military force posture and capabilities throughout the Middle East in light of escalating regional tensions,” the Pentagon said in a readout of the call.
The new pledges from the US to defend Israel came after a poll conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that the majority of Americans (56%) oppose the idea of using US troops to defend Israel from Iran.
The morons in D.C. know perfectly well that Iran has the right to defend itself, the same as Israel claims to defend itself. Iran, to my knowledge, has not assassinated a visiting dignitary from another country, much less a negotiator from that other country, IN ISRAEL. Trump did the same thing when he had Iranian General Soleamani assassinated while he was on a diplomatic visit to Iraq in 2020. The morons in D.C. can stop two wars with a phone call and order to stand down. Period. I have listened to Alistaire Crooke on Judging Freedom with Judge Napotilano. His concise information is golden. If only the morons in D.C. could or would listen. Our actions/reactions are f*cked on so many levels.
"The morons in D.C. can stop two wars with a phone call" Maybe in fantasy land. But in real life where the wars are driven by hate on both sides, it does not work that way.
Not fantasy land. In fact, just four words: You are cut off.
"You are cut off" Is much too polite
International Law is a quaint artifact of a bygone time. We live in the era of the new International Rules Based Order whereby Israel and its lackey has the right to do all that is needed to maintain its global hegemony. … and No, this is not sarcasm.
Ron Paul
@RonPaul
President Biden took a restful weekend sleeping on the beach while his Defense Secretary announced a massive mobilization of military assets in anticipation of a major Iran-Israel war.
Who is in charge? Who is giving orders?
Why is Congress out of the picture?
When has congress been in the picture? And imagine what the vote to authorize force against Iran would be if they were indeed in the picture.
Blinken went to the anniversary party for the celebration of the creation of the Geneva Convention. One gal in our congress expressed her displeasure: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/is-this-a-joke-rashida-tlaib-furious-at-blinken-for-celebrating-geneva-conventions-anniversary/ar-AA1oJgK1?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=055bf219b1ac429b85ec7d3d5963a5c3&ei=32
They have zero capability to "defend Israel". They can waste their anti-missile systems shooting down Iranian and Hezbollah drones, but the real ballistic missiles will get through – just like they did last night when Hezbollah dropped at least 30 missiles on Israeli military sites with zero Iron Dome interceptions.
Also their hypersonic missiles would hit their targets…!
Hezbollah has jamming devices.
Kirby the toad, croaking for his masters..
Does defense of Israel include direct attacks of Iran ? or will it be just
to shoot down missiles? This bit I do not see elaborated.
Austin has ordered a carrier group in the region. He has also ordered a sub to go as well.
In all of this, I do so hope the Russian Federation is shoveling tactical data, precise ship and sub positions, satellite intel over to Tehran "free of charge".
I believe Russia has provided Iran with advanced jamming instrumentation.
Austin is down in the decision making process to send a sub or any forces.
Since when Israel has become the 51st American state?
Since May 14, 1948…!
Israel cannot survive without US…!
Ben-Gurion said as much. He said that the Zionists could not pull off the Nakbha and the displacement of Palestinians to create the (illegal) state of Israel.
The price tag will be more than $3 billions this time…!
“We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here. Could be this week,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.”
Nice that he admits to being terroristic.
Gotta love this gal! Fox News: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/is-this-a-joke-rashida-tlaib-furious-at-blinken-for-celebrating-geneva-conventions-anniversary/ar-AA1oJgK1?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=DCTS&cvid=055bf219b1ac429b85ec7d3d5963a5c3&ei=32
Besides your point, the crime minister called the members of the Congress idiots, and they cheered him for it…!!!?
There is no "onslaught" other than the onslaught Israel is inflicting on a defenseless population in Gaza.
Forgive Kirby… He is another moron…!
Someone needs to give Biden his pills.