USA placed warships in position to protect Israel and US forces in the region, hoping to prevent a direct Iranian attack on Israel that could come as early as this weekend, according to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
The US measures, according to the media, included the repositioning of two destroyer warshipsone that was already in the region and another that was redirected there.
Furthermore, according to US officials who spoke to the WSJ, at least one of the ships carried the Aegis missile defense system.
These US measures, which are part of an effort to avoid a broader conflict in the Middle East, came after a leak about the timing and location of the possible Iranian attack.
However, the outlet notes that a person briefed by Iranian leaders told them that while plans to attack are being discussed, a final decision has not yet been made.
Iran has threatened Israel with retaliation for the attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus which killed seven members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard last week, in addition to destroying the building attached to the Tehran embassy, which was the residence of the Iranian ambassador.
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, said yesterday that a Iranian attack on Israel could happen “sooner rather than later” and when asked by reporters if he had a message for Iran, Biden said: “Don’t do it.”
“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel. We will support Israel and we will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” Biden said.
➡️Join the El Sol de México channel on WhatsApp so you don’t miss the most important information
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Friday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, to whom he reiterated that an escalation by Iran “would not benefit anyone in the region.”