US limits travel for workers in Israel, fearing an Iran a

Embassy of US building, (Picture Courtesy: Image ref Getty)

Mavhungunekuvule Mungomeni

(The Post News) – The United States has limited travel for its workers in Israel amid fears of an attack by Iran. This comes after Iran vowed to retaliate, blaming Israel for a strike on its consulate in Syria 11 days ago, killing 13 people. On Wednesday, April 10th, Iran’s leader said the Israeli attack in Damascus was equivalent to an attack on Iran itself. Iranian officials on Sunday, April 7th, warned Israel’s embassies were no longer safe, suggesting a consulate building could be a possible target.

Based on the Christy Cooney report, the United States embassy announced that its staff had been told not to travel outside the greater Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, or Beersheba areas out of an abundance of caution. Those killed in the consulate attack included a senior commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, as well as other military figures. The attack came at a time of continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent the war in Gaza from spreading across the region. It is not clear what form any reprisal attack would take or whether it would come directly from Iran or via one of its proxies.

Thursday, April 11th, The travel restrictions State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, “They would not disclose the specific assessments behind them, but we are monitoring the threat environment in the Middle East and specifically in Israel.”

The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Israel to state that the country’s government has raised the possibility of an attack on Israeli territory from Iran and that such an attack could trigger a wider escalation.

The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, has called his Iranian counterpart to urge against further escalation. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the consulate attack but is widely considered to have been behind it. Iran backs Hamas, the armed Palestinian group fighting Israel in Gaza, as well as various proxy groups throughout the region, including some such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, that frequently carry out strikes against the Israelis.

President Joe Biden warned Iran on Wednesday that it was threatening to launch a significant attack and vowed to offer ironclad support to Israel. The commander responsible for US operations in the Middle East, Erik Kurilla, has traveled to Israel for talks with officials on security threats.

The Pentagon said, “The visit had been scheduled previously but had been brought forward due to recent developments.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Lord Cameron said he had made clear that Iran must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict. He was deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken to the foreign ministers of China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to argue that further escalation is not in anyone’s interest. Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant has informed his US counterpart that any direct Iranian attack on Israeli territory would require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran.