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7 months ago
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President Joe Biden is cutting his weekend at the beach short and racing back to the White House to deal with spiraling tensions in the Middle East that could lead to a full-scale war.
Biden, 81, is set to leave Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home on Saturday afternoon so he can meet his national security team just 24 hours after he said an Iranian strike on Israel would happen 'sooner rather than later'.
He was due to stay until Sunday, but will now return to Washington D.C. following reports Tehran was moving more than 100 cruise missiles and drones to prepare for an assault.
The White House said Biden is set to 'consult with his national security team about events in the Middle East' - the day after he delivered a one-word warning to Tehran over possible strikes: 'Don't.'
President Joe Biden is cutting his weekend at the beach short and heading back to the White House to deal with the spiraling tensions in the Middle East that could lead to a full-scale war
The Pentagon has already moved aircraft carriers into the Red Sea amid fears of a full-scale war, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant today to tell him he has 'unwavering' backing from the U.S.
Austin reiterated 'that Israel could count on full U.S. support to defend Israel against any attacks by Iran and its regional proxies,
After issuing his one-word message to Iran not to strike Israel, Biden affirmed that the US was committed to supporting one of its oldest allies despite simmering tensions with Benjamin Netanyahu's government over the war in Gaza.
Iran has publicly threatened to hit back at Israel over an attack in Syria last week, which Tehran say was an Israeli airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus.
The strike in Syria led to the deaths of seven members of the Revolutionary Guard, including two generals.
Amid fears over a retaliatory attack from Tehran, reports indicated Iran was preparing its offensive as officials conceded that such a strike may be inevitable.
Biden cut his weekend beach trip short to convene with his national security team. Pictured (L-R) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan
Israeli army battle tanks move in an area along the border with the Gaza Strip and southern Israel on April 2, 2024
Iran has reportedly readied more than 100 cruise missiles as part of an 'imminent' strike on Israel: Picture are long-range air defense system called Arman displayed during an unveiling ceremony in Tehran, Iran, on February 17, 2024
Rescue workers search in the rubble of a building annexed to the Iranian embassy a day after an air strike in Damascus on April 2, 2024
Military officials briefed on the matter told both ABC News and CNN that the US has observed Iran readying at least 100 cruise missiles, indicating they could be ready to attack.
ABC also reported that a large number of drones that could be used in an attack on Israel have also been readied by the nation.
Pentagon officials said the US would beef up its presence in the region and the USS Dwight Eisenhower would be sent into the Red Sea in a warning to Tehran.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei vowed retribution in the wake of the Damascus attack, for which Tel-Aviv has yet to take responsibility.
English (US)