Biden warns Iran’s supreme leader against strikes in Iraq, Syria

President Joe Biden has issued a direct warning to Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The warning comes in the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict and is aimed at preventing strikes on US troops in Iraq and Syria.

The White House confirmed that a direct message was relayed to Ayatollah Khamenei, but specific details regarding the delivery method were not disclosed, as stated by US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.

Subsequently, on Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that US forces carried out precision strikes on two facilities located in eastern Syria, which were being used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These actions were taken in response to a series of attacks on US and allied forces in Iraq and Syria, with the Pentagon attributing these attacks to “Iranian-backed militia groups.”

President Biden addressed the issue during a press conference, emphasizing his warning to Ayatollah Khamenei, stating, “My warning to the Ayatollah was that if they continue to move against those troops, we will respond, and he should be prepared. It has nothing to do with Israel.” He made these remarks alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Simultaneously, Iran raised its concerns at the United Nations General Assembly over Israel’s campaign of air strikes and artillery against Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed his disapproval of the conflict’s expansion and warned, “if the genocide in Gaza continues, they will not be spared from this fire.”

In response to the escalating situation, the United States has deployed two aircraft carrier groups near Israel with the intention of deterring Iran and its allies from further escalating the conflict. Additionally, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered the activation of air defense systems in the region and notified additional forces of possible deployment.

Currently, there are approximately 2,500 American troops stationed in Iraq and around 900 in Syria. These deployments are part of efforts to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State group, which had once held significant territory in both countries but was pushed back by local ground forces with the support of international air strikes in a lengthy and violent conflict.