Biden warns Iran against attack on Israel amid tensions

US President Joe Biden has said he expects Iran to attack Israel "sooner, rather than later" and warned Tehran not to proceed.

Asked by reporters about his message to Iran, Mr Biden said: "Don't".

He also underscored Washington's commitment to defend Israel.

Mr Biden said: "We are devoted to the defence of Israel.

"We will support Israel.

"We will help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed."

Mr Biden said he would not divulge secure information, but said his expectation was that an attack could come "sooner, rather than later".

He spoke to reporters at the White House after a virtual speech to a civil rights conference.

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Israel is braced for an attack by Iran or its proxies as warnings grow of retaliation for an attack on Iran's embassy compound last week in Damascus that killed a senior commander in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' overseas Quds Force and six other officers.

Countries including India, France, Poland and Russia have warned their citizens against travel to the region, which already faces raised tensions over the war in Gaza, now in its seventh month.

The Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland is advising against all but essential travel to Israel.

It has also advised against all travel to the occupied Palestinian territory, with the exception of East Jerusalem, where all but essential travel is advised.

The department has maintained its advice against all travel to Lebanon and Iran.

Last night, Germany called on its citizens to leave Iran.

Israel did not claim responsibility for the airstrike on 1 April.

But Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Israel "must be punished and shall be" for an operation he said was equivalent to an attack on Iranian soil.

Meanwhile, White House spokesperson John Kirby said the reportedly imminent attack by Iran on Israel was a real and viable threat, but gave no details about any possible timing.

Mr Kirby said the United States was looking at its own force posture in the region in light of Tehran's threat and was watching the situation very closely.