President Biden held a frantic closed-door powwow with his top national-security advisers Monday as the Mideast war threatened to explode — and the US warned afterward it is set “to defend our forces.’’
Biden had talked by phone earlier in the day with Jordan’s King Abdullah about the dire situation.
At least two rockets were later fired at the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq, where US troops are stationed, sources told Reuters.
“Several’’ Americans were injured in the attack, the outlet said.
“The President and Vice President were briefed on the attack at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq,’’ the White House said in a statement after the administration’s huddle.
“They discussed the steps we are taking to defend our forces and respond to any attack against our personnel in a manner and place of our choosing.
“They were updated on U.S. military efforts to support the defense of Israel should it be attacked again.
They were also briefed on continued diplomatic efforts to de-escalate regional tension and to bring the ceasefire and hostage release deal to a conclusion,’’ the statement said.
The moves came as Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, said he was informed that Iran has decided it will definitely attack the Jewish state.
Katz said he received the message from Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who told him he was informed of the impending assault by acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri, the Jerusalem Post reported.
“Iran has informed us that it intends to attack Israel,” Katz sai
Iran says it needs to avenge the Israeli assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the top political chief and negotiator for Iranian ally and Palestinian terror group Hamas, on its own soil, Tehran, last week.
Israel also is facing an expected attack from Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon in retribution for the killing of one of their commanders, Fuad Shukr, in Lebanon around the same time.
