Skip next section Biden expects Iran to attack Israel ‘sooner than later’
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
Biden expects Iran to attack Israel ‘sooner than later’
said on Friday that he expects an imminent Iranian attack on Israel, but warned : “Don’t.”
Responding to questions from reporters about the likelihood of such an attack, he said: “I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner than later.”
He added: “We are devoted to the defense of , we will support Israel, we will help defend Israel, and Iran will not succeed.”
has vowed retaliation after an airstrike on April 1 leveled an Iranian diplomatic building in Damascus, killing seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guards including two generals. Iran has blamed its archenemy Israel for the strike.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eiGb
Skip next section Israel says ‘defenses are ready’ amid attack fears
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
Israel says ‘defenses are ready’ amid attack fears
IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said on Friday evening that Israel is prepared for a “wide variety of scenarios” including both defensive and offensive operations.
“Our defenses are ready and know how to deal with every threat separately,” Hagari told reporters. “Next to defense, we are prepared to attack. We are ready to attack with a range of capabilities and we know how to act and protect the people of Israel.”
Earlier, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the military alliance between Israel and the United States was as strong as ever following talks with the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael Kurilla, on Friday.
“Our enemies think that they can pull apart and the , but the opposite is true; they are bringing us together and strengthening our ties,” Gallant said, despite increasing frustration in Washington over Israel’s conduct of its in recent months. “We stand shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
Kurilla, who was dispatched to Israel by this week amid fears of a potential attack on Israel by Iran, also held talks with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) chief General Herzl Halevi.
https://p.dw.com/p/4eiDO
Skip next section US sending reinforcements to Middle East amid fears of Iran attack
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
US sending reinforcements to Middle East amid fears of Iran attack
The said Friday that it was deploying additional assets to the Middle East amid fears could be planning an attack on .
“We are moving additional assets to the region to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces,” a US defense official told media outlets, including CNN and the AFP news agency.
The official did not elaborate on exactly what assets were involved. US officials have said they do not expect a direct Iranian attack on US forces in the region.
increased earlier this month when several senior officers in Iran’s Republican Guard were killed in an , which Tehran has blamed on Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said after calls with his Australian, British and German counterparts on Thursday that “Iran does not seek to expand the scope of the war.” But he added that Tehran felt obliged to respond to the Damascus attack after the UN Security Council failed to take action.
US National Security Spokesman John Kirby said on Friday that US officials were in “constant communication” with their Israeli counterparts about the matter and that steps were underway to ensure Israel is able to defend itself.
“We are certainly mindful of a very public and what we consider to be a very credible threat made by Iran in terms of potential attacks on Israel,” Kirby said.
“It would be imprudent if we didn’t take a look at our own posture in the region to make sure that we’re properly prepared.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4eiD3
Skip next section US warns threat of Iran retaliation ‘real’
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
US warns threat of Iran retaliation ‘real’
The US considers Iran’s are credible, the White House said on Friday.
“We still deem the potential threat by Iran here to be real, to be viable,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
Earlier this week, Iran threatened to retaliate for an airstrike on an Iranian consular building in Damascus, Syria, that killed a number of Iranian generals earlier this month. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
“I would just say that we’re watching this very, very closely,” Kirby said, adding that Washington would make sure the Israelis “have what they need and that they’re able to defend themselves.”
On Wednesday, US President pledged “ironclad” support for Israel.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehnZ
Skip next section UN aid coordinator wants IDF hotline
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
UN aid coordinator wants IDF hotline
The United Nations’ outgoing humanitarian coordinator for the has called for the establishment of a direct hotline to Israeli forces fighting in Gaza.
“We’ve been asking for a couple of things since day one,” Jamie McGoldrick told reporters on Friday.
“We don’t deal directly with the IDF. We need to be speaking to people who are firing guns and controlling weaponry and we have to build up an understanding.”
McGoldrick said there was a “a degree of mistrust and misunderstanding” that needs to be addressed.
“The IDF have never worked with humanitarian organizers before in this type of environment. They don’t understand how we function, they don’t understand our language and what our purpose is. And we don’t understand their expectations,” he said.
McGoldrick’s comments come almost two weeks after an Israeli airstrike in a clearly-marked vehicle.
“I don’t think there’s been any notable improvement in terms of our ability to move around” since the incident, McGoldrick said, adding that humanitarian workers “fear for their own safety.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehkp
Skip next section Lufthansa extends suspension of Iran service
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
Lufthansa extends suspension of Iran service
Germany’s flag carrier airline has extended for a third time.
“Due to the current situation, Lufthansa is suspending its flights to and from Tehran up to and including Thursday, April 18, after careful evaluation,” a company spokesperson said on Friday afternoon.
The move follows Iran’s threats against Israel after an airstrike on an Iranian consular building in Syria that killed a number of Iranian generals.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehj5
Skip next section France advises against Middle East travel amid heightened tensions
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
France advises against Middle East travel amid heightened tensions
The French Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens to “imperatively refrain from travel” to Israel, Lebanon, Iran and the Palestinian territories.
Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne made the recommendation in a crisis meeting, the ministry said on Friday.
The new travel advisory comes in the wake of , which were prompted by an airstrike earlier this month that killed several Iranian generals in a consular building in Damascus, Syria.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehSN
Skip next section Scholz concerned over Iranian threats against Israel
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
Scholz concerned over Iranian threats against Israel
German Chancellor expressed his concern on Friday over in the wake of an airstrike that killed Iranian generals at a consular building in Damascus, Syria earlier this month.
“We are taking very seriously the dangers that are emerging with regard to possible actions by Iran,” Scholz told a press briefing in Berlin.
The German chancellor will depart for an official visit to China on Saturday.
When asked whether he would , Scholz said the German government is talking broadly “and in all directions.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehgN
Skip next section First aid reaches Gaza via new border crossing
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
First aid reaches Gaza via new border crossing
The first convoy of aid trucks to use a new border crossing in has entered the territory, the Israeli army announced on Friday.
The Israeli army released photos dated April 9 that it said showed the aid trucks undergoing preparations.
The trucks first underwent security checks at , near Egypt, before heading to the newly opened crossing in the north of the Gaza Strip on Thursday.
On board the trucks was food aid for Palestinians .
On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the new border crossing “will provide a route to bring aid directly to northern Gaza and reduce pressure on Kerem Shalom.”
He announced the move alongside several other measures that included increasing the flow of aid through the Ashdod Port and boosting aid through .
“These breakthroughs have a direct impact on the flow of aid — we plan to flood Gaza with aid and we are expecting to reach 500 trucks per day. It will also streamline security checks and strengthen our work with international partners,” Gallant added.
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehMF
Skip next section Rights groups seek to block German arms export to Israel
04/12/2024April 12, 2024
Rights groups seek to block German arms export to Israel
Human rights lawyers have filed a lawsuit against the German government for approving the export of 3,000 anti-tank weapons to Israel.
The case was brought by five Palestinians from Gaza, supported by lawyers from the (ECCHR) as well as Palestinian rights groups.
ECCHR said the German government had granted export clearance for 3,000 anti-tank weapons to Israel after the Hamas terror attack on October 7.
Meanwhile, an export permit application for 10,000 rounds of ammunition to Israel had yet to be approved. The lawyers called on the Berlin administrative court to as a provisional measure.
“Germany cannot remain true to its values if it exports weapons to a war in which serious violations of international humanitarian law are obvious,” ECCHR Secretary General Wolfgang Kaleck said in a statement.
The German government did not immediately comment on the lawsuit, but previously said it examines each arms export permit individually and takes a number of factors into account, including human rights and humanitarian law.
zc/wmr (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4ehMW
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