Biden warns Iran attack on Israel may be ‘sooner than later’

President Biden warned on Friday that an attack on Israel planned by Iran could happen soon.

Asked how imminent an attack on Israel was, Mr. Biden said he did not want to discuss classified information, adding: “I expect it sooner or later.”

When asked what message he had for Iran, he answered, “Please stop.”

“We are dedicated to the defense of Israel,” the president added. “We support Israel, we support Israel’s defense, but Iran will not succeed.”

U.S. officials warned this week that Iran is likely to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel following the April 1 attack on the Syrian embassy. The attack, believed to be carried out by Israel, killed seven Iranian military advisers, including three senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters early Friday that the Iranian threat is “real.”

“We are watching very closely,” he said, adding that the United States “continues to be in close contact with the Israeli side about preparing for this threat.”

The State Department also issued an updated security alert for U.S. government employees in Israel, restricting them and their families from personal travel outside of the greater Tel Aviv area, Jerusalem, and the southern city of Beersheba.