The United States has restricted travel to Israel by diplomats following reports of an impending attack from Iran.
The U.S. Embassy advised its staff to avoid travel outside of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or the Beersheba area “out of an abundance of caution.”
Israel has been on high alert after Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei vowed revenge after the April 1 bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus that killed several military personnel.
Israel warned this week that it would respond to any attack on Iran with strikes. The United States is moving to provide guarantees to its allies.
Gen. Michael “Eric” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, after President Joe Biden pledged “ironclad” support despite rising tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv over the Gaza war. entered Israel on Thursday to coordinate efforts to counter the Iranian threat. .
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Britain would also support Israel.
“The Iranian threat is completely unacceptable, and like the United States, we fully support Israel's right to defend itself,” he said.
“We have already highlighted that Iran is a significant risk to regional security and have always said we support Israel's ability to defend itself and will take action on our own to ensure the UK is protected from the Iranian threat. It’s happening.”
Israeli diplomats have reportedly been advised to stock up on essential goods in case of an attack by Iran.
Iranian officials were quoted by the news agency Amwazi as saying they predicted a “limited but targeted attack” and that targeting the Golan Heights, which is occupied by Israel but is recognized as Syrian territory, “would pose no risk. “Not much,” he suggested.
Asked Thursday about the travel restrictions, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said he would not provide a “specific assessment” behind them, but said, “We are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East, particularly in Israel. That's clear,” he added.
The UK Foreign Office also updated its travel advisory for Israel, saying the country's government had “raised the possibility of an attack by Iran on Israeli territory, and such an attack could trigger a wider escalation.” Stated.
