Tensions escalate: Iran prepares for retaliation as Israel pledges defense
5:36 AM EDT, April 18, 2024
Iran is reportedly preparing for potential retaliation from Israel, according to the American newspaper "Wall Street Journal." In anticipation, Tehran has begun evacuating officers stationed in Syria.
The "Wall Street Journal" reports that Tehran is readjusting its air forces for possible strikes, and the Iranian navy will protect merchant ships in the Red Sea. Furthermore, citing Syrian and Iranian officials, the newspaper indicates that the regime is relocating personnel from sites in Syria where the Iranian Revolutionary Guards have a presence.
It appears that high-ranking officers of the Guards and representatives of Hezbollah, which Iran backs, have already left Syria. Meanwhile, mid-level officers are moving to different locations within the country.
The United States, along with other Western and Arab nations, is urging Israel to avoid escalating the conflict. Israeli officials, per the "Wall Street Journal," mentioned that Israel has not finalized its response to these developments.
After discussions with the foreign ministers of Germany and Great Britain, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Wednesday that Israel "will make its own decisions and do whatever is necessary to defend itself."
Israel reassures its allies
In response to international concerns, Israeli government representatives assured Arab allies, who supported Israel's defense against Iranian hostilities, that any countermeasures would likely be limited in scope. Israel also pledged to pre-notify these countries before any action and to focus any attacks on Iranian infrastructure in Syria.
On Saturday, Iran launched an assault on Israel with over 300 rockets and drones, retaliating against an attack on a facility in Damascus, which led to the death of seven Revolutionary Guards officers. Despite Israel frequently targeting locations in Syria linked to Iran, Tehran aggressively reacted this time as the strike was on what it considered a diplomatic site. Israel disputes that characterization, while the United States still assesses the facility's status.
