American intelligence officials announced that they held a meeting with US President Joe Biden, and the topic, as was assumed, was a potential attack by Iran and its allies on Israel.
One of the senior officials said that Iran will definitely retaliate, but that Iran and Hezbollah’s response is still in the planning process.
What the intelligence officers discussed the most with Biden, but also with Vice President Kamala Harris, was the intensity of the attack. According to estimates, the intelligence services emphasized that a scenario involving two waves of attacks is expected.
“One attack will be launched by Hezbollah, the other by Iran. It remains unclear who will attack first and what kind of attack they intend to carry out,” the officials said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Also, the White House was informed that the Pentagon expects additional attacks by pro-Iranian forces in Iraq and in areas where American soldiers are stationed. The first attack has already been carried out on the Ain al-Assad air base.
“We discussed the steps we are taking to protect our forces and respond to any attack on our people in the way we choose,” the White House said.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Iran has decided to attack Israel.
“Iran has informed us that it intends to attack Israel. The world should demand that Iran pay a price for any aggressive action it takes,” Katz said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Iranian message was delivered to Israel through Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjart, who called Katz directly to explain that he had received this information from Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri.
The Israeli media announced a little earlier that Israel is considering a pre-emptive attack on Iran if Tehran, together with its allies, decides to attack.
The meeting, attended by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi, Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, took place amid preparations for expected attacks on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah.
The assessment that Iran is likely to attack Israel in the coming days or weeks follows last week’s back-to-back assassinations of Hezbollah military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Iran blamed Israel for Haniyeh’s death and vowed to retaliate.
Also, yesterday, the United States (U.S.) Secretary of State Antony Blinken told colleagues from the G7 countries that Washington believes an Iranian attack on Israel could begin in the next 24 to 48 hours, the reputable Axios reports citing sources briefed on the call.
According to the report, Blinken spoke with his counterparts amid U.S. efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region and prevent the outbreak of all-out war.
With the U.S. believing an Iranian attack is imminent following the killing of top Hezbollah and Hamas officials last week, Blinken told officials during the call that pressuring Tehran to limit its attack is the best way to avoid a regional war.
