The United States believes an Iranian attack on Israel has become even more likely and could occur as early as this week, officials said, as Allied leaders sought to avoid all-out war and the Pentagon deployed more forces to the region.
At a news conference on Monday, White House spokesman John Kirby said the United States and its allies “They have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks.”.
Israel believes that an attack by Iran and its allies is “increasingly likely,” Kirby said. “We share those concerns.”
Kirby’s comments were the clearest indication yet that officials expect an attack to happen at any time. Some have expressed puzzlement that it has not happened yet, given that Iran has been threatening retaliation for days following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, a killing for which Israel has yet to claim credit.
Meanwhile, allies are doing everything they can to prevent an Iranian attack, which they fear could trigger a wider regional war. That effort has focused on trying to inject new life into the negotiations ceasefire in relation to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
The last time Iran attacked Israel, in April, it fired hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones, almost all of which were intercepted. Casualties were limited and Israel responded at the time with a limited drone operation, but decided not to intensify the offensive.
Authorities fear it could be different this time, especially if an Iranian attack leaves many dead or wounded.
In a joint statement Monday, President Joe Biden and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom backed efforts to complete a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. They called for “the unrestricted delivery and distribution of aid” and endorsed “Israel’s defense against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iranian-backed terrorist groups”.
In a revelation that could add new complications to negotiations for the hostages’ release, Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, said Monday that two of its militants killed one hostage and seriously wounded two female hostages in separate incidents. It said in the statement that Israel’s airstrikes in Gaza provoke life-threatening reactions among the hostages.
Which countries called for a new round of negotiations between Israel and Hamas?
The United States, Qatar and Egypt have called for a new round of talks on August 15, but Hamas has rejected the proposal, saying discussions should focus on implementing previous plans.
Israel has agreed to attend the talksAn Israeli official said they would be held in Doha and would focus on whether Hamas might budge on the truce’s terms. Another Israeli official said Arab mediators would meet with Hamas afterward if the group boycotted the session. Israel has not budged on its main terms, said the officials, who spoke to Bloomberg News on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter.
On Sunday, the Pentagon announced it was sending even more forces to the region, including the USS Georgia, a submarine equipped with more than 150 Tomahawk missiles. That in itself is an unusual show of force, given that the United States rarely reveals the movements of its nuclear-powered submarine fleet, and Tomahawks have been used to attack land targets in the region in the past.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group to expedite their arrival in the region. The ship is carrying F-35 fighter jets, which could help attack targets and intercept any Iranian attack.
Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has called an attack on Israel “inevitable,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told Italian news channel TG4.
Tajani said any escalation would be a mistake and Iran should first evaluate the negotiations of the cease-fire.
“But it seems to me that the Iranians are in a very difficult position,” he said.
