Senior U.S. Official: Iran Prepares for Imminent Missile Attack on Israel

A senior White House official has told the media that the U.S. has obtained signs that Iran is preparing for an imminent ballistic missile attack on Israel. The official, whose statements have been reflected in several media outlets including Reuters, France, and the Associated Press, announced on Tuesday, October 2, that the United States is seriously and actively supporting Israel's defensive measures. He also warned that such an action would have "severe consequences for Iran." This senior U.S. official, who requested anonymity for security reasons, did not provide details on the evidence of Iran's preparations for the imminent attack, but stated that the White House is confident about this matter. On the other hand, an Israeli army spokesman stated that the U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, is ready to counter the Iranian threat. Another U.S. official told Reuters that Iran's missile attack on Israel could be as significant as the attack in April of this year or potentially larger. The New York Times, citing three unnamed Israeli officials, reported that Iran is likely targeting three Israeli military bases and "an intelligence facility in northern Tel Aviv," which has been evacuated. The American newspaper also quoted these sources as saying that the potential Iranian attack "could happen in the coming hours" and would include the launch of drones and missiles. A U.S. official also stated that the Islamic Republic would use ballistic missiles in this attack. Meanwhile, Barak Ravid, a reporter for Axios, wrote on X that a senior Israeli official told him that the warning about a potential Iranian missile attack reached Israel around noon local time. He quoted this official as saying that Israel believes this attack could occur within the next few hours, and the Israeli Prime Minister has summoned his security advisors to discuss the matter. In the meantime, Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, without mentioning the possibility of an Iranian missile attack, urged Israeli citizens to pay attention to the messages and instructions from the Israeli Home Front Command. CNN reported on Monday that the Biden administration is concerned that the Islamic Republic of Iran may seek to launch a military attack on Israel following the death of Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah in Lebanon. Hezbollah is a militia group and also a political party that controls a large part of southern Lebanon and is recognized by the United States as a terrorist organization. This group acts as Iran's largest proxy force in the Middle East. At the same time, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted a Western diplomat as saying that the Biden administration has warned Iran through a third country that if Tehran attacks Israel, the Israeli response will be very severe, and the U.S. will not be able to contain this country. In this context, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Tuesday during a meeting with his Moroccan counterpart that Washington is "closely monitoring events in the Middle East and is committed to defending Israel." Previously, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin had also announced the deployment of more fighter jets in the region. Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Tuesday that Israel is facing "great challenges" in the war against the Iranian axis. He urged the public to listen to the general instructions of the Home Front Command but did not directly refer to the missile threat from the Islamic Republic. An Israeli army spokesman also stated that Israel's air defense systems are fully prepared for any attack from Iran, but currently, "no threat" has been identified. Daniel Hagari further emphasized that Israel and its allies are at a high level of readiness and any attack from the Islamic Republic will have consequences for Iran. During the direct military attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel, which occurred in the early hours of April 16 this year with the launch of at least 313 cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and explosive drones, the Biden administration led a multinational military coalition to defend Israel, which resulted in 99 percent of the projectiles being intercepted and destroyed. That attack by Tehran was in response to an Israeli bombing attributed to the "consulate" of Iran in Damascus, where Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander of the Quds Force in Lebanon and Syria, was killed; Abbas Nilforushan succeeded Zahedi, who was also killed on October 28 in an Israeli attack on the command center of Hassan Nasrallah.