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In response to President Biden's claim of knowing when and how Israel will respond, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that anyone aware of the timing and manner of an Israeli attack on Iran must be held accountable.
"Anybody with knowledge or understanding of 'how and when Israel was going to attack Iran' and/or providing the means and backing for such folly, should logically be held accountable for any possible causality," Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi tweeted on Saturday.
Earlier on Friday, Biden said he has insight into "how and when Israel is going to respond to the missile attacks by Iran," though he refrained from providing further details.
Biden also noted that there was an emerging opportunity to address the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran in a manner that could temporarily halt their conflict in the Middle East. "There's an opportunity, in my view, and my colleagues agree, that we can probably deal with Israel and Iran in a way that ends the conflict for a while. That ends the conflict, in other words, that stops the back and forth," he added.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated sharply since October 1, when Iran launched 181 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for the assassination of Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in Beirut by Israeli forces.
While Israel's advanced air defenses intercepted the majority of the missiles, several hit both military and civilian targets, causing damage. In response, the Israeli government has vowed to retaliate and has intensified military operations in Lebanon and Gaza, focusing on the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas, Iran-backed militant groups.
Last week, the United States authorized the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and personnel to Israel, reaffirming its strong commitment to Israel's defense and the protection of US citizens in Israel from further missile threats. The THAAD system, which complements Israel's existing Patriot missile defenses, can intercept threats at ranges of up to 124 miles.
On Friday, Israel requested an additional THAAD system amid reports of a possible preemptive strike on Iran. The Pentagon confirmed that key components of the first THAAD battery, along with US personnel, had arrived in Israel earlier in the week.
