President Joe Biden has emphasized the United States‘ unwavering commitment to defend Israel against Iran, stating that their support is “ironclad.” This statement comes amidst growing concerns in Washington over the possibility of a significant Iranian strike occurring within days.

There are fears among American and allied officials that Iran may carry out a direct missile launch rather than an attack through proxies like Hezbollah in Lebanon. Iran has maintained its stance of retaliation following the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus.

With Israel vowing to respond in kind to a direct strike, the potential for a regional war has increased. US officials now believe that the likelihood of such a conflict is higher than at any point since the start of the Gaza conflict on October 7.

President Biden’s pledge of support to Israel at the White House, intended as a deterrent, came shortly after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, reiterated the threat to strike back against Israel over the Damascus bombing, which claimed the lives of 12 people, including Gen Mohammad Reza Zahedi and six other members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In response to Khamenei’s remarks, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, vowed a strong response, stating that if Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will retaliate by attacking Iran.

President Biden’s pledge to Israel during a joint appearance with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House was seen as a direct response to this warning. He emphasized that the US would not remain passive in the face of the Iranian threat, stating, “Our commitment to Israel’s security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. We’re gonna do all we can to protect Israel’s security.”