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IRAN could unleash a revenge strike on Israel in the next 24 to 48 hours, a US official has warned.
Tehran has spewed a series of verbal threats after several of its commanders were killed in a deadly blitz on its embassy in Syria.
AP
AFP
Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack – but Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to “punish” Israel over the strike, stoking fears of an all-out war breaking out in the region.
Countries in the Middle East have been on alert for retaliation – and Israel is understood to be preparing for an attack in the next two days.
An unnamed US official said Iran could target within Israel’s borders, rather than its assets, in what would be a major escalation.
The source added that US intelligence indicates Iran could strike within the next 24 to 48 hours, the Wall Street Journal reports.
But a person briefed by the Iranian leadership insisted that while plans are being discussed, no final decision has been made, the outlet said.
Israel has been preparing for an attack by Iran since April 1 when suspected Israeli warplanes bombed the Iranian embassy in the Syria capital Damascus.
General Mohammad Reza Zahedi died alongside six senior members of Iran’s twisted terrorist army, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted his country is “prepared for any scenario” as they continue war in Gaza.
He said: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them.
” We are prepared to meet all of the security needs of the State of Israel, both defensively and offensively.”
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant warned Israel would respond directly to any attack by Iran.
Conflict has spread across the Middle East since the eruption of the Gaza war in October 203.
Iran-backed groups declared support for the Palestinians waging attacks from Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq.
Tehran has so far avoided direct confrontation with Israel or the US, while declaring support for its allies and hiding behind the cloak of its proxies.
German airline Lufthansa, one of only two Western carriers flying to Tehran, extended a suspension of its flights to the Iranian capital.
Russia has also warned against travel to the Middle East.
Situation could get a whole lot worse
By Michael Clarke
WHEN the Israelis attacked the Iran consulate in Damascus, they must have known there would be a reaction to it.
In a sense they were almost taunting the Iranians — testing how far they could push them on the assumption that they didn’t think the Iranians would react very strongly.
The Iranians always talk apocalyptically.
They make blood-curdling threats but usually carry them through at a much lower level.
They are murderous dabblers, a malign actor across the whole of the region.
But everything they do is always arm’s length and low risk.
They persuade their clients, like Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen or Hamas to undertake operations against the Americans, the British or the Israelis.
But it’s always somebody else doing the dirty work.
The reason that they only dabble is because they know they are internally insecure.
Revolution has never been very far away from modern Iran in the last 20 years. They always worry about taking on a real war in case it brings the regime down.
Are they prepared to do more this time?
I suspect not, but it’s likely one of their clients will hit Israeli interests across the region, like Israeli firms or embassies.
The whole region will be on high alert, including the British and Americans.
The Americans are fully behind the Israelis, who are warning: “If you push us too hard, we will attack straight into Iranian territory.”
If the Israelis did attack Iran directly, they would probably go after large parts of the infrastructure Iran needs for its nuclear weapons programme, something they have been itching to do for many years.
The Israeli message is: “If you give us the opportunity, we’ll be glad to do it.”
It is intended to scare the Iranians off and make them take a step back.
If that does not work, then things could be a lot more dangerous this time next week.
British foreign secretary David Cameron said on Thursday he had made clear to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian that Tehran should not draw the Middle East into a wider conflict.
He said: “I am deeply concerned about the potential for miscalculation leading to further violence.”
A disturbing war simulation has revealed how a battle between Iran and Israel could turn nuclear.
The terrifying war games – crafted by military and security experts – lays out how nuclear strikes between the countries could unfold.
It sets out a chilling step-by-step scenario, beginning with conventional missile strikes that do nothing but rile up fury in each respective country.
Reuters
English (US)