The Biden administration is concerned that Iran may be planning to retaliate against Israel for the recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria. Iranian officials have threatened to retaliate, claiming that the building destroyed in the strikes was a consular building, making it an attack on Iran itself. The U.S. has begun considering options for how to respond to potential retaliatory moves by Iran, with a focus on military or intelligence targets rather than civilians. In response to the situation, the U.S. reached out to Iran directly to assure them that they were not involved in the strikes and did not have advance knowledge of them.
Following the strike in Damascus that killed Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Zahedi and other IRGC officials, U.S. officials are concerned that retaliation by Iran could impact U.S. troops in the region. The U.S. military has shot down two attack drones near the al Tanf garrison in southern Syria and is on heightened alert. There have not been any recent attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, with a two-month pause following an attack by Iranian-backed militants that killed three American service members. The U.S. has responded to previous attacks with retaliatory strikes, and the military is prepared for potential future threats.
The U.S. has denied any involvement in the recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria and has warned Iran not to use the strikes as a pretext to escalate tensions in the region or target American facilities. A top aide to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned the U.S. not to get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, cautioning against falling into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trap. The U.S. and Israel have been in regular contact regarding Iranian threats of retaliation, with the U.S. stating its full support for Israel’s defense against Iran.
The conflict between Israel and Iran is escalating, with fears of potential retaliatory actions by both sides. The Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation and considering how to respond to various possible moves by Iran. The U.S. military is on high alert in the region, with recent incidents involving drone threats near U.S. forces in southern Syria. The U.S. has a history of responding to attacks by Iranian-backed militants and remains prepared for any future threats to U.S. troops in the region.
