Threat Of Iranian Reprisal To Killing Of Two Generals In Israeli Air Strike 'Real', Says White House

In a statement on Friday, the White House said the threat of Iran avenging the killing of its two generals in the Israeli air strike earlier this month was “real”.

The White House said the threat of Iran avenging the killing of its two generals in the Israeli air strike earlier this month was “real”.

Source : Getty Images

New Delhi: Amid fears of Iran striking back after Israel hit its embassy in Syria, taking out two top generals, the US on Friday said a “reprisal” from Tehran remains a possibility.

In a statement on Friday, the White House said the threat of Iran avenging the killing of its two generals in the Israeli air strike earlier this month was “real”.

“We still deem the potential threat by Iran here to be real, to be viable,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told journalists, according to news agency AFP.

The attack on the Iranian embassy in Syrian capital, Damascus, has led to growing fears of the opening of a new front amid the ongoing Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza following the horrific terror attacks of October 7, last year.

According to the AFP report, the spokesman for the National Security Council stopped short of confirming reports that the US fears a retaliatory strike by Tehran, in response of the killing of the Iranian generals, was “imminent”.

He also dodged direct questions on whether the US would consider shooting down an Iranian missile or projectile directed at Israel.

Tehran has vowed revenge after the Israeli air strike at its Syrian consulate took out two top generals.

“I would just say that we're watching this very, very closely,” Kirby said.

However, the spokesman for the National Security Council did add that the US would make sure that Israel have all that “they need and that they're able to defend themselves”.

The US said it would also look at the positioning of its own forces in the region “to make sure that we’re we are properly prepared”.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned that Iran was “threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel”, while pledging “ironclad” support for Washington's top regional ally despite diplomatic tensions over Israel's military conduct in Gaza, according to AFP.