US anticipates Israeli response to Iran: Limited in scope

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
16 Apr 2024 22:50

US intelligence indicates that "Israel" is considering a narrow and targeted military strike within Iran in retaliation for the "unprecedented scale of the Iranian attack".

Iranian missiles lit up the occupied Palestine sky during the Iranian attack on “Israel” on April 14, 2024. (SreenGrab / AFP)

A senior administration official and a source familiar with the intelligence informed CNN that the United States foresees "Israel's" military reaction to Iran's strikes to be of what he described as "restricted nature."

Based on information from a second source, US intelligence suggests that "Israel" is contemplating a targeted and restricted military strike within Iran in retaliation for "the unprecedented scale of the Iranian attack". However, "Israel" has not officially informed the United States about its intended plans or timing, as per a senior administration official.

“We would hope that they would give us some warning so that we're prepared to protect our personnel, not just military but diplomatic throughout the region,” the administration official said as quoted by CNN.

“But there's no guarantee they will give us they will give us a heads up and they know when they give us a head’s up, we're likely to again register our objection to whatever they're about to conduct,” the official added.

The official further mentioned that should "Israel" choose not to retaliate, the US is assured that there will be a reduction in tensions, leading to a return to the previous state of affairs.

“But any additional move now opens up a series of other possibilities, some of which are quite frightening,” the senior official stressed.

This comes as Iranian officials have made it clear that Iran stands ready to confront any Israeli attack following Operation True Promise launched by Iranian forces in response to the Israeli aggression that targeted the country's consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on April 1.

Iran army chiefs to Al Mayadeen: We are at utmost level of readiness

The Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Force, Brigadier General Kioumars Heydari, affirmed in an exclusive statement to Al Mayadeen, on Tuesday, that Iranian forces are "always prepared to respond to any threat, regardless of its magnitude, at any time, and any day."

He stated that the Iranian response to any attack would be as decisive and strong as the one the illegitimate Zionist entity suffered on April 14, stressing that this approach is to protect Iran's people and defend their dignity and sovereignty.

Heydari emphasized that the Iranian Armed Forces worked cohesively under the command of their general commander to strongly and decisively respond to the empty slogans and rumors in international public circles.