The United States announced Tuesday that Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack on Israel, warning that such an attack would have “severe” consequences for Iran.
The warning came as Israel announced it had launched a ground offensive in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah, which was killed in an Israeli airstrike last week.
“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing imminently for a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” a senior White House official told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“We are actively supporting Israel’s defense preparations to protect it from this attack.”
The United States and other Western allies intervened to help Israel defend itself against a combined Iranian missile and drone attack that Tehran launched in April in retaliation for an Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.
The US official added: “A direct military attack against Israel from Iran would have serious consequences for Iran.”
Although Iran claimed Nasrallah’s killing would result in the “destruction” of Israel, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Iran had no intention of sending soldiers to confront Israel.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran on Monday, saying, “There is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu also said that a future in which “Iran is finally free” will “come much sooner than people think.”
An Iranian attack on Israel would further exacerbate concerns of a broader regional conflict that the United States and other world powers want to avoid in the Middle East.
Despite President Joe Biden’s calls for a ceasefire, the United States is cautiously supporting Israel’s efforts to dismantle Hezbollah’s ability to attack northern Israel.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is “following events in the Middle East very closely.”
Blinken spoke with Morocco’s Nasser Bourita at the State Department on Tuesday morning and said, “The United States is committed to the defense of Israel.”
The U.S. government announced Monday that it will increase its troop strength in the Middle East by “several thousand troops” by expanding existing troops and bringing in new troops.
More fighter jets were also deployed, the Pentagon said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin late Monday offered Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant assistance with Hezbollah’s “dismantling of offensive infrastructure” along the border with Lebanon.
Hezbollah launched low-intensity attacks against Israeli forces a day after Palestinian ally Hamas, also backed by Iran, carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, leading to Israel’s devastating attack on the Gaza Strip. This triggered an attack.
Cross-border shelling by Israel and Hezbollah continued throughout Israel’s war in Gaza.
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