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A direct attack on Israel from Iran is expected imminently, according to a report.
The attack could come within the next 24 to 48 hours and target southern or northern parts of the Jewish state, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited a person familiar with the matter.
However, a person briefed by leaders of the Iranian regime noted that no final decision has been made about attack plans, though they have been discussed, the outlet said.
“The strike plans are in front of the Supreme Leader and he is still weighing the political risk,” an adviser to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.
Tehran has vowed revenge against Israel over an airstrike last week in Syria, which targeted an Iranian diplomatic complex in the capital city of Damascus.
Seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members, including two top commanders, were killed in the airstrike.
Senior US officials indicated last week that Iranian retaliation against Israeli or American assets in the Middle East is expected and believed to be imminent.
But US intelligence now points to Iran being focused on a retaliatory strike “possibly on Israeli soil” rather than US or Israeli interests elsewhere in the Middle East, according to the Journal.
The US Embassy in Israel issued a security alert Thursday, warning employees and their family members not to travel outside of central areas of the country.
“Out of an abundance of caution, US government employees and their family members are restricted from personal travel outside the greater Tel Aviv (including Herzliya, Netanya, and Even Yehuda), Jerusalem, and Be’er Sheva areas until further notice,” the embassy said.
“US government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.”
The Pentagon confirmed that Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of US Central Command, the apparatus responsible for military operations in the Middle East, was in Israel Thursday.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also spoke with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, reiterating the “ironclad US support for Israel’s defense in the face of growing threats from Iran and its regional proxies,” according to a readout of their call.
“Secretary Austin assured Minister Gallant that Israel could count on full US support to defend Israel against Iranian attacks, which Tehran has publicly threatened,” the Pentagon statement said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that “harm” would come to anyone who launches attacks on the Jewish state.
“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,” Netanyahu said during remarks at an air base in southern Israel.
