Israel is bracing for a direct and unprecedented attack by Iran on govt targets as soon as Saturday, according to people familiar with western intelligence assessments. The assault from Iranian soil has emerged as one of the main scenarios expected by the Jewish state and its allies, said the people, who asked not to be identified as they aren’t authorised to discuss the matter.A bombardment with drones and precision missiles could come within the next 48 hours, they said.
Western officials said intelligence showed Iran is preparing an attack on Israel “any day after Eid,” the Muslim holiday celebrated on April 10, adding the next 48 hours were critical to see if the message to diffuse tensions had successfully reached Tehran. The US is preparing defences and has moved additional military assets to the region, while intensifying diplomatic efforts to rein in hostilities, the people said.
The move still hasn’t been approved by Tehran’s highest-ranking officials, they said.
A Iranian missile and drone barrage would represent a retaliation for a deadly attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria last week, which the Islamic Republic blames on Israel. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly said Israel will be “punished” for the assault, though stopped short of saying what form such a counter move would take.
Two of the people said it’s possible that the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric between Israel, Iran, and the US could be grandstanding, but said the working assumption for Israel and allies is that an attack is imminent. Diplomatic back-channels are in overdrive, the people said.
US officials including Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk have been working to send messages to Iran, including through an established Swiss channel, one of the people said, while talking to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other governments.
Western officials said intelligence showed Iran is preparing an attack on Israel “any day after Eid,” the Muslim holiday celebrated on April 10, adding the next 48 hours were critical to see if the message to diffuse tensions had successfully reached Tehran. The US is preparing defences and has moved additional military assets to the region, while intensifying diplomatic efforts to rein in hostilities, the people said.
The move still hasn’t been approved by Tehran’s highest-ranking officials, they said.
A Iranian missile and drone barrage would represent a retaliation for a deadly attack on its diplomatic compound in Syria last week, which the Islamic Republic blames on Israel. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly said Israel will be “punished” for the assault, though stopped short of saying what form such a counter move would take.
Two of the people said it’s possible that the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric between Israel, Iran, and the US could be grandstanding, but said the working assumption for Israel and allies is that an attack is imminent. Diplomatic back-channels are in overdrive, the people said.
US officials including Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk have been working to send messages to Iran, including through an established Swiss channel, one of the people said, while talking to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other governments.