The White House says Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.
“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack,” a senior White House official said in a statement. “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”A spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The warning comes amid Israeli forces’ ground incursion into Lebanon where they are conducting raids against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. The raids are part of an ongoing campaign by Israel to degrade Hezbollah’s positions in Lebanon.
A spokesperson for Israel’s embassy in Washington declined to offer immediate comment.
Over the past several weeks, Israel has targeted senior Hezbollah commanders by detonating explosives inside pagers and walkie-talkies and by launching airstrikes on the group’s command centers in Beirut — one of which killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
The U.S. has been anticipating a significant retaliation from Iran following Israel’s push against the group.
Over the weekend, the U.S. stepped up its military presence in the Middle East to deter further violence and safeguard American interests. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its accompanying destroyers to remain in the region, while also increasing air-support capabilities. The Pentagon placed more troops on standby and extended the deployment of the USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group in the eastern Mediterranean.
Source Agencies
