Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Thursday that Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran, Amid strong messages of support by the United States.

“A direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran," Gallant told US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, according to remarks issued by his office.

The Pentagon said the two discussed the United States' "iron-clad" commitment to Israel's security against threats from Iran and its proxies.

"Echoing President Biden's unequivocal message to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened," the Pentagon said.

It added that a visit by the top US general for the Middle East, Army General Michael "Erik" Kurilla, to Israel had been moved up so he could meet with Israeli military leadership and discuss "current security threats." Kurilla has been travelling to Israel regularly in recent months.

Republican Senator Joni Ernst, a critic of the Biden administration’s policies toward Iran, expressed gratitude for President Joe Biden’s strong message of support to Netanyahu in an interview with Iran International on Thursday.

Although Tehran has made repeated threats of a forceful response to the Israeli airstrike that killed two top IRGC generals in Damascus on April1, so far it has hesitated.