Jerusalem and Washington are on high alert as they brace for a possible weekend attack from Iran and its allies, following the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh earlier this week. This comes nearly four months after Iran launched missiles towards Israel in an unprecedented strike on April 13.
In response, the United States has begun deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to protect its personnel and defend Israel, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Pentagon officials, quoted by AP, have confirmed the arrangement of additional ballistic missile defence-capable cruisers and destroyers.
The Biden administration is convinced that an Iranian attack on Israel could occur as soon as this weekend. The US anticipates that this attack could be broader and more complex than the April 13 retaliation for an airstrike in Syria that killed a top Iranian general.
Adding to the tension, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has vowed to respond to the recent Israeli airstrike in Beirut that killed commander Fuad Shukr.
The April missile attack from Iran was in retaliation for an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including a high-ranking commander. At that time, Israel received support from several Arab nations, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which helped intercept Iranian and Houthi drones and allowed the US and Israel to use their airspace.
However, current US assessments suggest that garnering the same level of cooperation might be challenging due to the widespread condemnation of Haniyeh’s assassination across the Middle East, as reported by Axios.
A senior Israeli official informed Axios that the intelligence community is anticipating a significant missile attack on Israel. Meanwhile, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson confirmed that international partners have bolstered their forces in the region.
Amidst fears of a wider regional conflict, several US and international airlines, including Air India, have suspended flights to and from Israel.
