Axios Speculates Based on Three Israeli and American Officials: Iran Expected to Attack Israel Starting Monday

According to Axios news site, officials in Washington and Jerusalem expect the Islamic Republic and its proxy forces to retaliate for the killing of Foad Shukr, a military commander of Hezbollah, and Ismail Haniyeh, a senior member of Hamas last week, by attacking Israel. Three American and Israeli officials stated that they expect the Islamic Republic to soon, possibly starting Monday, attack Israel. General Michael Kurilla, head of the U.S. Central Command, arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, August 13, on a planned trip coinciding with defensive preparations against threats from the Iranian regime. Although General Kurilla's trip to the region was planned before the recent escalation of tensions between Israel, the Islamic Republic, and Hezbollah, an American official stated that he is expected to use this trip to mobilize the same international and regional coalition that defended Israel against the Iranian attack on April 14. The Pentagon announced on Friday, August 12, that it is moving a squadron of fighter jets to the Middle East and maintaining an aircraft carrier in the region to bolster U.S. military presence to assist in defending Israel and protecting American forces. Israel and the U.S. are coordinating a regional and international coalition to repel potential attacks similar to the Iranian attack on April 14, during which the Islamic Republic fired hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel. American officials expect that any retaliation from the Iranian regime will use the same strategic methods as the April 14 attack, but likely on a larger scale and with the potential involvement of Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Biden administration is concerned that mobilizing the same international and regional coalition that defended Israel against the previous Iranian attack may be more difficult due to the killing of Haniyeh occurring in the context of the Israel-Hamas war, which has stirred strong anti-Israeli sentiments in the region. Axios further reports that according to an American official, Kurilla is expected to visit several Gulf countries, Jordan, and Israel. Jordan will be a key stop in the U.S. Central Command chief's trip. The Jordanians played a significant role during the April 14 attack by intercepting Iranian drones heading toward Israel and allowing American and Israeli fighters to use their airspace to intercept the Iranian drones. This official added that the U.S. hopes that this will happen again this time. According to Axios, the Pentagon and CENTCOM did not respond to requests for comment. Farzin Nedimi: All organizations under the IRGC are under the influence of intelligence agencies from other countries. Shayan Samimi: The IRGC's intelligence weakness stems from widespread financial and administrative corruption in the system. The U.S. and Saudi Arabia exerted pressure; Russia retreated; the Houthis were deprived of military weapons.