White House warns ‘significant’ Iranian attack on Israel can happen this week
National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby
The United States White House has warned that Iran could launch a "significant" attack on Israel this week. Briefing the press on Monday (August 12), National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said: "We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks."
Concerns about escalation
Kirby said that the US shares "the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here."
Also read |Iranian attack on Israel looming? Tehran issues NOTAM, urges aircraft to change their routes
"Could be this week," added Kirby.
The US National Security Council's comments came as the United States, in response to the escalating tensions, deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a guided missile submarine to the region, in a show of support for Israel.
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Why will Iran attack Israel?
Iran's probable attack would be retaliation for the recent assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, an act that Israel is suspected of committing but has not officially claimed.
Tehran has previously expressed its determination to retaliate against Israel for Haniyeh'sassassination.
Last week, during a G7 conference call on August 5, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, had warned of a potential coordinated attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel.
Reports from Barak Ravid on Axios, citing three US and Israeli officials, at the time, had supported this prediction, and suggested that the attack could take place that day.
An Israeli official, speaking to CBS News, had indicated that Israel anticipates a "more aggressive" assault compared to Iran's attack on April 13.
The same day, Iran had declared that it had the "legal right" to respond to the assassination of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran last week. The attack has been attributed to Israel amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.
"No one has the right to doubt Iran's legal right to punish the Zionist regime," said Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani during a regular news conference, in obvious reference to Israel.
While asserting its right to retaliate, Nasser Kanani emphasised that Iran "does not seek to aggravate tensions in the region," which have been on the rise since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in early October and escalated further following the Wednesday attack in Tehran.
"We believe the consolidation of stability and security in the region will be achieved by punishing the aggressor and creating a deterrent against the adventurous behaviour and extraterritorial terrors of the Zionist regime," he stated.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden spoke to leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the UK to discuss de-escalating tensions in the Middle East and a ceasefire in Gaza.
The leaders of all five countries expressed support for Israel against any Iranian threat, said a White House joint statement.
The leaders endorsed the call for renewal of talks for ceasefire to conclude a hostage-truce deal as soon as possible.
They “stressed there is no further time to lose,” the statement says.
(With inputs from agencies)
