New Delhi: Israel is preparing for a possible retaliatory strike from Iran, which could take place as early as this weekend, after an airstrike on a diplomatic compound in Syria killed two Iranian senior commanders on 1 April.
According to media reports, Israeli forces have been expecting an attack since Friday. The US is moving additional assets, including warships, into the region to better protect its personnel.
US President Joe Biden had Friday urged Iranian leaders to not retaliate for the 1 April attack and promised to defend Israel.
“We are devoted to the defence of Israel. We will support Israel. We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed,” said Biden. The US President does believe an attack would come “sooner” rather than “later”.
On 1 April, at around 4.45 pm in Damascus, Syria, a building in the diplomatic premises of Iran was struck by missile airstrikes, killing two senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders and other officers. In a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Iran said that it “reserves its legitimate and inherent right under international law and the United Nations Charter to take a decisive response to such reprehensible acts”.
Iran has blamed Israel for the airstrike. Tel Aviv has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
The two senior commanders from the IRGC killed are Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Haj Rahimi and Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi.
Zahedi is reported to have been a senior commander of the IRGC in Lebanon and, in 2010, the US Treasury department, in its sanctions announcement against him, said he “plays a key role in Iran’s support to Hezbollah.”
According to the Washington Post, the US was not informed of the strikes on the Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria by their Israeli counterparts — which has led to further tension between the two allies.
The Netherlands foreign ministry Saturday announced that it is closing down its embassy in Tehran Sunday as a precautionary measure due to the tensions between Israel and Iran.
Meanwhile, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) Friday urged Indians to not travel to Israel or Iran as the situation in West Asia remains precarious following the attack on the Iranian diplomatic compound in Syria.
“In view of the prevailing situation in the region, all Indians are advised not to travel to Iran or Israel till further notice. All those who are currently residing in Iran or Israel are requested to get in touch with Indian Embassies there and register themselves,” said the MEA in its advisory.
Apart from India, countries like France, Poland and Russia have put out travel advisories, warning their citizens from travelling to the region, while Germany has asked its citizens to leave Iran.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)