Biden vows ‘ironclad’ US commitment to Israel amid fears of Iran attack

US president and allied officials fear significant' strike within days in retaliation for Israeli bombing of consular building in Damascus

Joe Biden has vowed that US commitment to defend Israel against Iran was ironclad" as concerns rose in Washington that a significant" Iranian strike could happen within days, in retaliation for the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus.

US and allied officials fear that a strike is imminent and could come in the form of a direct missile launch from Iran, rather than an attack through a proxy like Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel has vowed to respond in kind to such a direct strike, raising the prospect of a regional war, which US officials now believe is more likely than at any point since the beginning of the Gaza conflict on 7 October.