Iran attack on Israel ‘within next two days’

As Israel prepares for a direct attack from Iran in the next 24 to 48 hours, US moves aircraft carrier strike force close and Israel air force is ready to scramble.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari speaks to reporters. Picture: AFP.

Israel is preparing for a direct attack from Iran on its south or north regions as soon as the next 24 to 48 hours, the Wall St Journal reports, citing a person familiar with the matter.

However a person briefed by the Iranian leadership, told the newspaper that while plans to attack Israel are under discussion, no final decision has been made.

Iran has repeatedly warned of severe reprisals for the Israeli attack on an Iranian consular compound in Syria, when a number of leading members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps were killed.

On Thursday (AEDT) Bloomberg reported that intelligence officials warned of an “imminent” attack on Israeli assets by Iran or its proxies, but the WSJ reports that sources believe the attack could be within Israel’s borders. Any such attack could lead to a major escalation in the region, potentially drawing in the US.

A US official with knowledge of the matter told the newspaper American intelligence reports indicate an Iranian retaliatory strike within days, “possibly on Israeli soil” as opposed to Israeli interests elsewhere.

The reports come as the top US commander for the Middle East arrived in Israel on Friday (AEDT) for discussions with the country’s military officials.

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.

General Erik Kurilla, the US commander for the Middle East, will “meet with key IDF leadership” to “discuss the current security threats in the region,” Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists.

Earlier, the US moved an aircraft carrier strike group away from the western coast of Yemen to the northern waters of the Red Sea, closer to Israel, ahead of an attack. The move, led by the USS Eisenhower, was aimed at defending against a large-scale missile or drone attack on Israel by Iran or one of its proxy groups in the region, The London Times reports.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his country was prepared “defensively and offensively” for a potential strike by Iran as the country’s military warned an attack would be “clear proof” of Iran’s plans to escalate conflict in the region.

On a visit to a military air base on Thursday, Mr Netanyahu said his country was “prepared for scenarios involving challenges in other sectors”. In an apparent reference to Iranian threats, he added: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them.”

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said his troops were on alert “and are highly prepared for various scenarios.”

A US fighter plane lauches from the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower in the Red Sea during operations against Houthi targets. Picture: CentCom via AFP.

As the country prepared for an attack, a rotation of Israeli air force combat aircraft remained airborne for the last 48 hours on the north, east and southern borders of the country in a “high alert” status, able to scramble within 10 minutes of Iranian missiles being in the air, according to military blogger OSINT defender.

The Israeli air force also conducted exercises with the US and Cyprus to “simulate an attack in Iran”, according to the Israeli army radio station GLZ. The drills, which included at least one squadron of fighter jets, carried out a simulated retaliatory strike in preparation for an attack on Israeli territory by Iran or its proxies, according to OSINTdefender, a military blogger.

The Israeli Air Force reportedly conducted a Training Exercise this Week in Coordination with the U.S. Military and Cypriot National Guard over the Island of Cyprus, which Simulated a Retaliatory Air Operation against Iran if a Large-Scale Attack by Iran and Iranian-Backed Groups… pic.twitter.com/QPQhKV1Tq0

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) April 11, 2024

Israel’s Channel 12 reports that a source in the Biden administration said the US was expecting a “larger than usual” attack, but added that it was not expected to have “an intensity that would bring the US into combat.”

However US employees in Israel and their family members have been warned against personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Beersheba areas.“Out of an abundance of caution, US government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Beersheba areas until further notice,” the US embassy said in a security alert posted on its websit

Israel’s military’s civil defence body has also instructed municipalities around the country to prepare for an attack and ensure that public shelters are fit for use, the Khan broadcaster reporters.

The White House said it had “warned” Iran against a retaliatory strike after President Biden vowed on Thursday “iron-clad support” for Israel in the event of an attack.

“We warned Iran,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters in a briefing.

European leaders have also warned Iran against a strike. British Foreign Minister David Cameron says he made it clear to his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, that Iran should not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.

“Today I made clear to Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian that Iran must not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict,” Mr Cameron wrote on X.

“I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence. Iran should instead work to de-escalate and prevent further attacks,” he added.

Iranian sources told Reuters that Tehran hadsignaled to Washington it would respond in a way that aims to avoid major escalation and it would not act hastily. Iran’s message to Washington was conveyed by Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian during a visit to Oman, Reuters reports.

Israel warned on Wednesday that if Iran directly attacked its territory in retaliation for the bombing of the Iranian consulate building in Syria on April 1, Israel would strike directly at Iranian territory. “If Iran attacks from its territory — Israel will respond and attack in Iran,” Israel Katz, the Israeli foreign minister, said on X.

With AFP