US expects Iran to attack Israel directly, according to sources, as Biden issues a “don’t”

The Biden administration is on high alert for what could be the eruption of a significantly volatile and unpredictable period in the Middle East, and sources tell TFD that the US expects Iran to launch strikes against multiple targets inside Israel in the coming days and is ready to assist in helping intercept any weapons launched at its ally.

On Friday, President Joe Biden issued a harsh public warning once more, predicting that Iran would launch assaults “sooner rather than later.” His admonition to Tehran was to “don’t.”

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October, the US has wanted to prevent a major escalation in the region, which would occur if Iran and Israel started a state-on-state confrontation.

According to a senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence, as of late Friday, the US assessed that Iranian proxies would potentially be engaged in the next strikes, and that the targets would probably be both inside Israel and across the region. The degree of continued collaboration between the two military was evident in the US’ willingness to intercept weapons fired against Israel.

According to two persons familiar with US intelligence, the US had seen Iran relocating military equipment within its borders, such as drones and cruise missiles, indicating that it was getting ready to launch an attack on Israeli targets from within its own borders. According to one of the witnesses, the US had seen Iran preparing up to 100 cruise missiles.

It was unclear if Iran was staging a move to try to dissuade the US or Israel from carrying out a potential counterattack on its land, or if it was getting ready to launch an initial attack from its grounds.

In response to reporters’ concerns about whether US forces were in danger, Biden stressed his administration’s dedication to Israel’s security at the White House on Friday.

He declared, “We are committed to Israel’s defense.” “Iran will fail, and we will stand by Israel and assist in its defense.”

Following Israel’s attack on an Iranian diplomatic post in Syria last week that resulted in the deaths of three Iranian generals, the White House stated on Friday that there is still a “real,” “credible,” and “viable” threat that Iran will unleash strikes.

Biden’s national security team has been providing him with regular briefings on the situation, as he issued a warning this week that Iran was preparing a “significant attack” on Israel.

As the Iranian threat grew closer, the US and a number of other nations, including Britain and France, released updated travel advisories for government employees in Israel.

The National Security Council’s spokesperson, John Kirby, stated, “We’re watching this very, very closely,” but he would not comment on when the danger is likely to materialize.

Long-range missiles fired toward Israel from the Houthis in Yemen have already been intercepted by US Navy forces stationed in the Red Sea. Depending on where they are fired, drones and missiles aimed towards northern Israel may also be intercepted by US forces in Iraq and Syria.

As Israel and the US prepare for a possible Iranian attack, the Defense Department is also deploying more resources to the Middle East “to bolster regional deterrence efforts and increase force protection for US forces,” a US defense official told TFD.

The goal of the Pentagon’s efforts has been to strengthen air defenses for US troops stationed in Iraq and Syria, who were attacked more than 100 times between October and February by proxy forces backed by Iran. At the Tower 22 base in Jordan in January, a drone managed to breach US air defenses, killing three US service members.

Although it is not expecting Iran or its proxies to attack US personnel in reprisal, the US is transferring the assets anyhow.

“It would be unwise if we didn’t assess our own positioning in the area to ensure that we’re adequately ready,” Kirkby remarked.

Last week, TFD reported that the United States was actively bracing for an attack by Iran against American or Israeli assets in the region, and that the country was on high alert. According to officials, an attack of this nature might occur this week.

Iran is reportedly cautious of a sharp escalation.

According to two persons familiar with US information on the subject, TFD reported earlier this week that an Iranian strike on Israel would probably be carried out by Iranian proxy forces in the area rather than by Iran itself.

According to the sources, Tehran fears a sharp uptick in the fighting and does not want to provide the US or its allies with a pretext to launch a direct strike on Iran.

Although the sources noted that Iran does not have perfect command and control over all of its proxy forces, the possibility of an attack on US assets cannot be completely ruled out, they said that Iran and its proxy militia groups do not appear ready to attack US troops or other assets in the region.

According to the sources who spoke to TFD, US intelligence believes that Iran has pushed a number of its proxy militia groups to attack Israel simultaneously with missiles and drones, maybe as soon as this week.

One insider stated, “The threat is very clear and credible.” “Everything is set up for them to launch the strike right now. Simply wait at the appropriate moment.

During a phone conversation last week, Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possibility of an Iranian attack.

One of the worst-case situations for which the Biden administration is prepared is an Iranian direct strike on Israel, which would ensure a swift escalation of the already volatile Middle East situation. A strike of this kind might cause the Israel-Hamas battle to escalate into a larger regional confrontation, which is precisely what Biden has long wished to prevent.

Kirby stated that Biden is being briefed on the situation several times a day.

Kirby stated on Friday that efforts were being made to guarantee Israel’s ability to defend itself and that US officials were in “continuous communication” with their Israeli counterparts regarding the situation.

“We are aware of Iran’s very public and, in our opinion, credible threat regarding possible attacks on Israel,” Kirby stated on Friday.

He cited US Central Command chief Gen. Erik Kurilla’s travel to Israel on Friday in order to have “those conversations directly with his IDF counterparts.

Due to the anticipation of an Iranian reaction to Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, Syria, last week, Kurilla’s trip to Israel was accelerated.

According to one of the US sources, there have also been several discussions in which US officials have pleaded with Israel not to intensify the situation by taking revenge on Iran.

Separately, sources told TFD that US officials were angry with their Israeli colleagues for not providing more intelligence before Israel launched the strike in Damascus last week. According to another US official, Israel didn’t tell anyone until its planes were in the air on their way to Syria.

The official stated, “We were not aware that Israel was going to carry out this airstrike in advance.” Israel contacted a U.S. official moments before the incident to inform them that they were planning an attack in Syria while their planes were still in the air. The strike had already started before word could reach the US administration, and it contained no information about who or where it would be carried out.

diplomatic coercion

According to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, China, and Turkey, urging them to put pressure on Iran to refrain from escalating the Middle East crisis following threats made by Iran against Israel.

In order to convey a similar message about Iran, Miller added that the US had also “engaged with European allies and partners over the past few days.” The Iranian foreign minister has recently spoken with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Every nation that has any kind of relationship with Iran, according to Blinken, “has been making clear that it is in their interest to use that relationship to send a message to Iran that they should not escalate this conflict.” However, I’ll let those nations speak for themselves regarding any possible course of action, Miller added.

In response to Iran’s public threats against Israel, the US State Department has placed restrictions on the travel of US government employees within Israel.

According to a security alert released by the US Embassy on Thursday, “U.S. government personnel are authorized to transit between these three areas for personal travel.” However, “out of an abundance of caution, U.S. 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.”

According to the advisory, “the security environment is still complex and subject to sudden changes based on the political landscape and recent events.”

Due to the possibility of “military escalation,” France has recommended its people to “absolutely refrain” from visiting Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. This information was released by the French Foreign Ministry on Friday.

The ministry further stated that civil servants would not be permitted to serve on missions to Iran or its territories, and that families of diplomats stationed in Tehran, the capital of Iran, would be sent back to France.

Following a crisis conference on the region, the French Foreign Minister released the latest advice, the ministry stated in a post on X.

Further developments have been added to this story and headline.