U.S. dispatches general in charge of the Middle East to F-15 base in Israel as it faces ‘imminent’ strike from Iran and Netanyahu warns: ‘Anyone who hits us, we hit them’

The US general in charge of the Middle East headed to Israel on Thursday to coordinate with Israeli defense officials after Iran threatened retaliation against the country for an attack in Syria.

General Michael ‘Erik’ Kurilla’s expected meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior Israeli Defense Forces officials was first reported by Axios. Kurilla is commander of U.S. Central Command.

It comes after an Israeli attack on an embassy complex in Damascus last week killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and several others.

Zahedi was the highest-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer killed since the 2020 assassination of Qasem Soleimani.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Israel made a mistake and “must be punished.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to repeat a warning to Iran on Thursday that Israel would retaliate if Iran attacked.

“We follow a simple principle: anyone who hits us, we hit,” Netanyahu said during a visit to an F-15 base. Times of Israel. “We are ready to fulfill our responsibilities towards Israel’s security, both in defense and offense.”

“We are in challenging times,” Netanyahu said during his visit to the pilots. ‘We are in the middle of a war in Gaza that continues with full force. In addition, we continue our relentless efforts to return our hostages, but we also prepare for challenges from other fronts.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits an F-15 base on April 11, 2024. Netanyahu appeared to repeat during the visit that if Iran attacks, Israel will respond with ‘anyone who hits us, we hit them’

An attack by Iran or its allies on military and government targets in Israel is imminent. Bloomberg News reported citing intelligence sources, with one source saying it is more a matter of when, not if.

Israeli officials said they are preparing for a potentially unprecedented attack from Iran using ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles, Axios reported.

“Our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its allies is ironclad,” President Biden said

It comes after President Joe Biden vowed on Wednesday that US support for Israel is “rock solid” amid concerns the country could be targeted by major missile or drone attacks by Iran.

“As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its allies is rock-solid. Let me say it again: rock solid, Biden said at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

“We are going to do everything we can to protect Israel’s security,” Biden said.

Muslims arrive at the Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine to perform the prayer of Eid al-Fitr that marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, in Tehran

Tehran warned it would retaliate for an Israeli attack on Syria on April 1.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei noted in a speech for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday that attacking an embassy “means that they have attacked our territory.”

“The evil regime has made a mistake and it must be punished and will be punished,” he added, according to state news agency IRNA.

Iran’s main proxy group is Hezbollah, which is based in southern Lebanon and has exchanged fire with Israeli forces almost daily since the war in Gaza broke out in October.

Israel has not explicitly acknowledged that it was behind the attack on an Iranian embassy, ​​but it has warned its military

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei noted in a speech for Eid al-Fitr on Wednesday that attacking an embassy “means they have attacked our territory”

Israel has not explicitly acknowledged that it was behind the attack, as it has put its army on alert.

And Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: “If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will respond and attack in Iran.”

There are fears that open war between Israel and Iran could turn into a much broader conflict.