US says Iran is preparing missile attack on Israel

A high-ranking official from the White House stated on Tuesday that the United States has signs suggesting that Iran is about to carry out a ballistic missile strike on Israel in the near future.

An official shared with reporters that if Iran were to launch a military strike on Israel, it would face serious repercussions. They also noted that the US is currently helping with defensive measures.

The spokesperson for the Israeli military mentioned that there were currently no identified aerial threats, but emphasized that their air defense systems were on standby.

Iran did not reply right away, but on Saturday, the country's supreme leader promised that Israel would pay for the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is allied with Iran.

The alert about a possible Iranian strike surfaced shortly after Israeli forces launched an operation into southern Lebanon. The military announced that they were conducting attacks on "Hezbollah terrorist positions" in border towns that endangered people living in northern Israel.

Israel is taking decisive action following nearly a year of ongoing cross-border tensions that began with the conflict in Gaza. The country aims to ensure the safe return of residents living along the border who have been forced to flee due to attacks from Hezbollah.

Nonetheless, there are common concerns that the serious intensification of their ongoing conflict could lead to a full-scale regional war involving both the US and Iran.

During a televised briefing on Tuesday afternoon, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), announced that the United States had notified Israel about Iran's intentions to launch missiles in the near future.

"Right now, there's no indication of any air threat coming from Iran," he stated. He went on to say, "We've encountered this kind of threat in the past, and we are prepared to handle it again."

"Our air defense systems are fully ready, and Israeli Air Force planes are actively monitoring the skies. However, the defense is not foolproof, so it’s crucial to keep following the guidelines from the Home Front Command."

The IDF Home Front Command previously informed the Israeli public that gatherings in outdoor spaces should be confined to a maximum of 30 individuals, while those held indoors should not exceed 300 people.

In a video message, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed the Israeli public, "We are currently engaged in a fight against Iran's coalition of malevolence."

"We will remain strong and united during the challenging times that lie ahead. We will support each other, confront our struggles as one, and ultimately achieve victory together."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, "We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East. The United States is dedicated to supporting Israel's security. As I mentioned, we are paying careful attention to the unfolding events right now."

The Central Command of the US military has stated that three more squadrons of F-16 and F-15E fighter jets, along with A-10 attack aircraft, are on their way to the Middle East. Additionally, they confirmed that one squadron has already arrived.

During the weekend, the Pentagon announced that it had taken measures to strengthen the defensive readiness of American troops across the Middle East in order to "prevent hostile actions." Part of this effort involves keeping the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group in the area.

U.S. officials informed CBS News, a partner of the BBC, that any assault from Iran on Israel could potentially be as extensive or even exceed the attack that occurred on April 13.

On that day, Iran fired over 300 drones and missiles at Israel in response to a lethal attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, which resulted in the deaths of several high-ranking commanders.

Nearly all of them were intercepted and destroyed by Israel, the US, and their Western allies along with Arab partners. Additionally, a military airfield in southern Israel experienced only slight damage from the attack.

In response, Israel fired a missile that struck an Iranian airbase.

U.S. officials stated that Iran has been poised to carry out an attack at any moment since early August, following its warning to avenge the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has refrained from confirming or denying its involvement in Haniyeh's death.

On Saturday, just one day after the leader of Hezbollah was killed in an Israeli air raid in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that the death of Hassan Nasrallah "will not go unpunished."

He didn't provide any specifics, but stated, "The future of this area will be shaped by the resistance movements, with Hezbollah leading the way."

Iran has established a coalition of armed groups throughout the Middle East, all of which are against the US and Israel, often calling themselves the “Axis of Resistance.” This network includes Hezbollah, Hamas in the Palestinian areas, the Houthis in Yemen, and several Shia militias operating in Iraq and Syria.