Are Israel and Iran headed for a war? Know what can happen
As the Middle-East braces for potential Iranian strike, commandos from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard today rappelled down from a helicopter onto an Israeli-affiliated container ship near the Strait of Hormuz and seized the vessel.
U.S. President Joe Biden had said on Friday he expected Iran to attack Israel «sooner, rather than later» and warned Tehran not to proceed. Israel did not claim responsibility for the airstrike on April 1. But Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel «must be punished and shall be» for an operation he said was equivalent to an attack on Iranian soil.
What is the state of play?
Israel's foreign minister has threatened that his country's forces would strike Iran directly if the Islamic Republic launched an attack from its territory against Israel. The remarks came after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated a promise to retaliate against Israel over the attack on its consulate in Damascus earlier this month.
US President Joe Biden has stressed his country's «ironclad» support for Israel. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has asked China's foreign minister and other counterparts to use their influence to dissuade Iran from striking Israel. Russia, Germany and Britain on Thursday urged countries in the Middle East to show restraint. Many airlines, including India's, are now avoiding Iranian air space. Troop reinforcements from Israel's ally, the US, headed to the region on Saturday, with fears of wider war growing.
Former US president
