President Joe Biden is cutting his weekend at the beach short and rushing back to the White House to address rising tensions in the Middle East that could lead to full-scale war.
Biden, 81, will leave Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, for home on Saturday afternoon so he can meet with his national security team, just 24 hours after he said an Iranian attack on Israel would happen “sooner rather than later.”
He was due to stay until Sunday but will now return to Washington DC after reports that Tehran moved more than 100 cruise missiles and drones in preparation for an attack.
The White House said Biden will “consult with his national security team on events in the Middle East” — the day after he issued Tehran a one-word warning about possible attacks: “Don’t.”
President Joe Biden cuts short his weekend at the beach and returns to the White House to deal with rising tensions in the Middle East that could lead to a full-scale war
The Pentagon has already moved aircraft carriers to the Red Sea for fear of a full-scale war, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today called his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant to tell him he has “unwavering” support from the US.
Austin reiterated that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against possible attacks from Iran and its regional allies.
After delivering his one-word message to Iran not to attack Israel, Biden affirmed that the US was committed to supporting one of its oldest allies despite simmering tensions with Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the war in Gaza.
Iran has publicly threatened to hit back at Israel following an attack in Syria last week, which Tehran said was an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
The strike in Syria led to the deaths of seven members of the Revolutionary Guard, including two generals.
Amid fears of a retaliatory attack from Tehran, reports indicated that Iran was preparing its offensive as officials admitted such an attack could be inevitable.
Israeli army main battle tanks move in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024
Iran has reportedly readied more than 100 cruise missiles as part of an ‘imminent’ attack on Israel: photo shows a long-range air defense system called Arman, shown during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on February 17, 2024
Rescue workers search the rubble of a building belonging to the Iranian embassy a day after an airstrike in Damascus on April 2, 2024
Military officials briefed on the matter told both ABC News and CNN that the US has seen Iran readying at least 100 cruise missiles, indicating they could be ready to attack.
ABC also reported that the country has also prepared a large number of drones that could be used in an attack on Israel.
Pentagon officials said the US would strengthen its presence in the region and that the USS Dwight Eisenhower would be sent into the Red Sea as a warning to Tehran.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed retaliation in the aftermath of the attack in Damascus, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.