What's happened
US President Joe Biden has pledged strong support for Israel in the face of potential Iranian retaliation following the bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus. Iran's Supreme Leader has threatened to strike back against Israel, raising fears of a broader conflict. Israeli Foreign Minister has warned of retaliating inside Iran if attacked from Iranian territory.
Why it matters
The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the US backing Israel, raise concerns of a potential regional war. The threat of direct strikes between Iran and Israel could have far-reaching consequences, impacting regional stability and potentially drawing in other countries. The situation underscores the volatile nature of the Middle East and the delicate balance of power in the region.
What the papers say
The Guardian reports on US President Biden's pledge of support to Israel, while The Times of Israel and Al Jazeera highlight Iran's Supreme Leader's threats of retaliation against Israel. The Independent provides insights into Israel's warning of striking back inside Iran if attacked from Iranian territory.
How we got here
Tensions between Iran and Israel have been escalating, with recent attacks and counterattacks in Syria and Lebanon. The bombing of an Iranian consular building in Damascus has heightened the risk of a broader conflict. Iran's support for militant groups in the region and Israel's efforts to counter Iranian influence have fueled the ongoing hostilities.
Common question
More on these topics
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon to the southwest, the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest.
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Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei is a Twelver Shia Marja' and the second and current supreme leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989.
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Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon. Hezbollah's paramilitary wing is the Jihad Council, and its political wing is the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc party in the Lebanese parliament.
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Damascus; Arabic: دمشق, romanized: Dimašq, Syrian Arabic: is the capital of Syria; it is also the country's largest city, following the decline in population of Aleppo due to the battle for the city.