US, 'Israel' prepare for Iran retaliation expected in few days: Axios

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Axios
2 Aug 2024 01:53
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A US official tells Axios that the intelligence community has detected early signs on Wednesday that Iran is planning a retaliatory operation.

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Aerial objects flying over occupied al-Quds during Iran's retaliation against "Israel" for bombing its consulate in Syria on April 15, 2024 (Social media)

The United States believes that Iran will carry out its retaliation against "Israel" for assassinating Hamas' politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh earlier this week in Tehran, Axios reported on Thursday citing three US officials, adding that the US is "preparing to counter it".

According to the news site, the officials said Iran's attack is expected to be larger but similar in nature to that back in April, which came in response to the Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic's consulate in Syria, and could also involve Hezbollah.

The US, UK, and France along with several regional countries joined efforts, both military and intelligence, to repel Iran's April operation consisting of some 300 drones and missiles launched at "Israel". According to estimations then, the few-hours interception operations cost over $1 billion.

Following the Iranian, a senior US official told Axios it will be "very hard to replicate the huge success" of intercepting the Iranian drones and missiles "and the Israelis know it."

According to the outlet, President Joe Biden's administration today fears that it may be more difficult to form the same coalition to protect "Israel," since the Iranian retaliation for the assassination of Haniyeh is part of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which resulted in the growing of opposition to "Israel" in the region.

A US official said that the intelligence community detected early signs on Wednesday that Iran is planning a retaliatory action. Two other officials estimated that Iran and its allies would take a few days to prepare for the attack.

Meanwhile, a US official told Axios that the Pentagon and the US CENTCOM are making preparations similar to those in April ahead of Iran's response ten. The official added that US military assets in the Gulf, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Red Sea are also part of the preparations.

"We expect a few rough days," the official said.

'New phase'

Along with the assassinations of the Resistance leaders in Beirut and Tehran, the Israeli regime targeted late month a civilian power plant and oil facilities in Yemen's Hodeidah, resulting in massive material damage and the martyrdom of six civil servants.

The Resistance Axis, which has been carrying out military operations against "Israel" and the US since last October to force an end to the genocide in Gaza, vowed to avenge its leaders and the Israeli aggressions on their countries.

In a speech delivered earlier today at a large funeral ceremony held for Hezbollah's martyred leader Sayyed Shokor, Hezbollah's chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said that the recent Israeli crimes have led to the confrontation with the Resistance Axis to enter a new phase.

"We are facing a major battle where matters have surpassed the issue of support fronts," he said referring to operations conducted by the Palestinian Resistance's allies in support of Gaza, announcing: "We are in an open battle on all fronts, and it has entered a new phase .. and the escalation of the new phase depends on the Israeli reactions."