Iran-Israel clash: US sends warships to ‘protect’ Israeli, American troops

International media said on Saturday that the US has moved its warships to key locations to defend US and Israeli forces in the area, amid rising tensions between Iran and Israel.
According to CNN, the Pentagon has been aggressively bolstering the air defenses for US soldiers stationed in Syria and Iraq, who have been subjected to more than 100 strikes from proxy forces supported by Iran between October and February.

Furthermore, the US State Department has advised Americans living in Israel not to venture outside of large cities due to worries that an Iranian strike on Israel would entail over 100 drones and several missiles aimed at military targets.

President Biden stated on Friday that he expected an imminent attack by Iran on Israel, restating US support for the country and promising to help with defense efforts against any aggression.

Israel has been on high alert sd for an attack by Iran or its allies, especially after threats of retaliation for an attack on Iran’s embassy complex in sd Damascus, Syria, that claimed the lives of six other officers and a senior commander of the Quds Force, the overseas branch of the Iranian Revolutionary sd Guard Corps.

Amidst the growing tensions between Iran and Israel, India has released travel advice advising its people to stay away from both destinations. The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that anyone who are presently living in Iran or Israel should use caution.
Amid the increased tensions, many other nations—including Germany, France, Poland, and Russia—have also issued travel advisories to their nationals cautioning them against visiting the area.
Hezbollah, a Lebanese force supported sd by Iran, launched a flurry of missiles at northern Israel on Friday, according to The Times of Israel.

About forty rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, according to the Israel Defense Forces. IDF claimed to have also shot down sd two Hezbollah-launched drones carrying explosives.

Beginning on October 8, 2023, Hezbollah-led troops have been bombing Israeli villages and military facilities along the border almost every day since its allies Hamas carried out a massacre in Israel that claimed 1,200 lives.

Why is Iran preparing to go to war with Israel?

Major player in Iranian paramilitary activities in Syria and Lebanon, General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, died in the attack on Damascus earlier this month, which Syria also blamed on Israel. With Zahedi’s passing, Iran has suffered a great loss since the US assassinated General Qassem Soleimani in 2020.

US promises ‘ironclad’ support for Israel

The Pentagon emphasized on Friday that talks on the US’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security in the face of threats from Iran and its allies are still underway.
In response to fears that Tehran may launch “significant” strikes in retaliation for the explosion of the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, US President Joe Biden reaffirmed on Thursday his “ironclad” resolve to defend Israel against any Iranian assault.
“As I stated to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we are steadfastly committed to protecting Israel from grave dangers posed by Iran and its allies. Again, let me state it: unquestionable. Israel’s security would be safeguarded to the fullest extent possible, the head of the White House declared.

‘Don’t’: Amid fears of an imminent attack on Israel, Joe Biden to Iran

US President Joe Biden stated on Friday that he believes Iran will strike Israel “sooner rather than later,” according to CNN, amid concerns that the current hostilities in Gaza may escalate into a wider Middle Eastern battle.
When questioned about the likelihood of an Iranian strike on Israel, Biden told reporters, “I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later.”

As widely documented, Tehran swore retaliation after three senior military generals were killed by Israeli bombings on the Iranian embassy in Damascus, Syria.
At this point, the US President sent a message to Iran that warned, “Don’t.”
CNN claimed that Biden returned to the platform and said that the US was “devoted” to the defense of Israel in response to additional yelled queries from reporters in the White House about if US forces were in danger.

“We are committed to defending Israel. Iran will not prevail, and we will stand with Israel and assist in its defense,” stated Biden.
Concerns about a major Iranian retaliation assault against Israel have put the US on high alert in recent days.

Following Israel’s attack on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria last week that resulted in the deaths of three Iranian generals, the White House stated on Friday that there is still a “real, credible, and viable” danger of Iran initiating attacks.
Biden’s national security staff has been providing him with daily briefings on the situation. This week, Biden issued a warning, claiming that Iran was threatening to launch a “significant attack” on Israel.
As the Iranian danger became closer, the US and a number of other nations, including India, Britain, and France, released updated travel advisories for federal personnel in Israel.

“Until further notice, all Indians are urged not to travel to Iran or Israel due to the current situation in the area. We are asking everyone who is currently living in Israel or Iran to get in contact.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the US National Security Council, stated, “We’re watching this very, very closely,” but he would not say when the danger is expected.
According to two Washington officials who spoke to CNN, the US would make every effort to intercept any missiles fired against Israel, if it is possible to do so. This shows how closely the two armed forces continue to work together.
Previously, US Navy troops in the Red Sea have intercepted long-range missiles headed for Israel that were fired from the Houthis in Yemen. Depending on where they are launched, US soldiers in Iraq and Syria may also be able to intercept missiles and drones aimed at northern Israel, according to CNN.

Meanwhile, as Israel and the US prepared for a possible Iranian strike, a US defense official told CNN that the US Defense Department was transferring more assets to the Middle East “to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces”.
According to CNN, the Pentagon has been concentrating on strengthening air defenses for US soldiers stationed in Iraq and Syria, who were attacked more than 100 times between October and February by proxy forces backed by Iran.
At the Tower 22 facility in Jordan in January, a drone managed to breach US air defenses, killing three US military men.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel

Although the US is shifting assets just in case, it does not anticipate that Iran or its proxies would target US soldiers as part of their reprisal.
“It would be imprudent if we didn’t take a look at our posture in the region to make sure that we’re properly prepared,” Kirby stated.
Last week, CNN reported that the United States was actively bracing for an assault by Iran against American or Israeli assets in the area, and that the country was on high alert. According to officials, an assault of this nature may occur this week.

China increasing weapons sales to Russia to support war against Ukraine

According to a US assessment, China has increased its supply of machine tools, microelectronics, and other technologies to Russia. Moscow uses these goods to manufacture missiles, tanks, planes, and other weapons for use in its conflict with Ukraine.
Speaking on Friday under oath, two top Biden administration officials said that around 90% of Russia’s microelectronics in 2023 originated from China, a source that Russia has utilized to produce missiles, tanks, and airplanes.

China accounted for about 70% of Russia’s machine tool imports, which totaled USD 900 million in the last quarter of 2023.
The authorities stated that China and Russia have been collaborating to manufacture unmanned aerial vehicles within Russia, and that China’s businesses are probably supplying Russia with the nitrocellulose required to manufacture missile propellants.
Beijing is also collaborating with Moscow to enhance its satellite and other space-based capabilities for use in Ukraine; however, authorities fear that this move might eventually make Russia a more dangerous threat to all of Europe. The individuals said that the US had also established that China is giving Russia images for its conflict with Ukraine, using degraded intelligence results.

The results were reviewed by the authorities ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s anticipated visit to China later this month. Prior to this, Chinese President Xi Jinping was personally notified by President Joe Biden of his worries over Beijing’s apparent support for Russia’s military effort.
China has supported Russia diplomatically in accusing the West of inciting Russian President Vladimir Putin to declare war, even though it has not directly given Russia any military help. In deference to the Kremlin, China has refrained from referring to the conflict as an invasion.

In spite of the restrictions imposed by Washington and its allies, China has stated that it is not giving Russia any armaments or military support. However, it has continued to have strong commercial ties with Moscow, as well as with India and other nations.

Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia, met with Xi in Beijing on Tuesday and praised Xi’s leadership.
Due to its rising economic and diplomatic isolation, Russia is becoming more dependent on China, the country that it once faced off against for the Cold War’s Communist bloc leadership.

After visiting Beijing this week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she cautioned Chinese officials that if they support Russia’s armed forces in their ongoing invasion of Ukraine, the Biden administration was ready to impose sanctions on Chinese banks, businesses, and Beijing’s leadership.
With the issuance of an executive order in December, the Democratic president granted Yellen the power to impose sanctions on financial firms that provided support to Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Using the initials for the People’s Republic of China, Yellen told reporters, “We continue to be concerned about the role that any firms, including those in the PRC, are playing in Russia’s military procurement.”

“I emphasized that businesses, including those in the PRC, will suffer serious repercussions if they give tangible assistance to Russia’s conflict. And I reaffirmed that banks run the danger of US sanctions if they enable large-scale transactions that feed military or dual-use commodities to Russia’s defense industrial base.
China, meanwhile, on Thursday unveiled unprecedented sanctions on two US defense firms for allegedly supporting arms sales to Taiwan, the democratically run island nation that Beijing insists is its own and may be reclaimed by force if necessary.

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The assets of General Dynamics Land Systems and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems that are held in China are frozen as a result of the statement. It also prevents the management of the firms from entering the nation.
According to filings, General Dynamics has six Gulfstream and jet aircraft services businesses in China. Despite its efforts to establish a foothold in the market, the company still mostly depends on foreign aerospace technology.
Additionally, the corporation contributes to the production of the Abrams tank Taiwan is buying to replace its antiquated armor in an effort to repel or withstand a Chinese invasion.

The US military uses Predator and Reaper drones, which are made by General Atomics.