U.S. dispatches general in charge of the Middle East to F-15 base in Israel as it faces 'imminent' strike from Iran and Netanyahu warns: 'Anyone who hits us, we hit them'

The United States general in command of the Middle East headed to Israel on Thursday to coordinate with Israeli defense officials after Iran threatened retaliation against the country for an attack in Syria. 

General Michael 'Erik' Kurilla's expected meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior Israel Defense Forces officials was first reported by Axios. Kurilla is commander of U.S. Central Command.

It comes after an Israeli strike on an embassy complex in Damascus killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi and several others last week. 

Zahedi was the most senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officer killed since the assassination of Qasem Soleimani in 2020.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Israel made a mistake and 'must be punished' on Wednesday. 

General Michael Erik Kurilla headed to Israel to coordinate with Israeli defense officials as Iran threatens to attack. He is in charge of the Middle East (file photo)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to reiterate a warning to Iran on Thursday that if Iran attacks, Israel would retaliate.

'We set a simple principle: Anyone who hits us, we hit them,” Netanyahu said during a visit to an F-15 base according to Times of Israel. 'We are ready to fulfill our responsibilities to Israel’s security, in defense and attack.'

'We are in challenging times,' Netanyahu told pilots during his visit. 'We are in the midst of a war in Gaza that is continuing with full force. In addition, we are continuing with ceaseless efforts to return our hostages, but we are also preparing for challenges from other fronts.'

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting an F-15 base on April 11, 2024. Netanyahu appeared to reiterate during the visit that if Iran attacks, Israel will respond 'anyone who hits us, we hit them'

An attack by Iran or its proxies against military and government targets in Israel are imminent, Bloomberg News reported citing intelligence sources, with one source saying it is more a matter of when, not if. 

Israeli officials said they are preparing for a possible unprecedented attack from Iran using ballistic missiles, drones and cruise missiles, Axios reported.

'Our commitment to Israel security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad,' President Biden said

It comes after President Joe Biden on Wednesday vowed American support for Israel is 'ironclad' amid concerns the country will be targeted by major missile or drone strikes by Iran.

'As I told Prime Minister Netanyahu, our commitment to Israel security against these threats from Iran and its proxies is ironclad. Let me say it again: ironclad, Biden said at a press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

'We're going to do all we can to protect Israel security,' Biden said.

 Muslims arrive at Shah Abdol-Azim Shrine to perform the prayer of Eid al-Fitr that marks end of the fasting month of Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, in Tehran

Tehran warned it would retaliate for an Israeli strike in Syria on April 1st.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, noted in a speech Wednesday for Eid al-Fitr that attacking an embassy 'means that they have attacked our soil.'

'The evil regime made a mistake and it should be punished and will be punished,' he added, according to IRNA, the state news agency.

Iran’s main proxy group is Hezbollah, which is based in southern Lebanon and has been trading fire with Israeli forces almost daily since the war in Gaza erupted in October. 

Israel has not explicitly acknowledged it was behind that attack on an Iranian embassy but it has put its military on alert

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, noted in a speech Wednesday for Eid al-Fitr that attacking an embassy 'means that they have attacked our soil'

Israel has not explicitly acknowledged it was behind that attack as it puts its military on alert.

And Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz wrote on X: 'If Iran attacks from its territory, Israel will react and attack in Iran.'

There are fears an open war between Israel and Iran could turn into a much broader conflict.