US anticipating 'inevitable' Iranian attack on US, Israeli assets: CNN
3 Min Read
Intelligence gathered by the US indicates that Iran is planning a retaliatory strike potentially involving a combination of Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles.
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Emergency services work at a destroyed building hit by an Israeli air strike in Damascus, Syria, Monday, April 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Omar Sanadiki)
The United States is currently on high alert and actively preparing for a potentially "significant" attack that Iran could carry out within the next week, targeting either Israeli or American assets in the region in response to the Israeli aggression that targeted the Iranian consulate in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday, which resulted in the death of top Iranian advisors, CNN reported citing a senior Biden administration official.
The official mentioned that senior American and Israeli officials believe that an Iranian attack is "inevitable". According to CNN, both governments are intensely coordinating their efforts to position themselves ahead of the anticipated strike. They anticipate that Iran's response could manifest in various forms, putting both US and Israeli assets and personnel at risk.
The senior Biden administration official pointed out that, as of Friday, neither government had precise information on when or how Iran intended to retaliate.
Israeli media have recently revealed that, in fear of Iranian retaliation, the Israeli occupation government has shut down 28 of its legations worldwide. Seven Israeli embassies were also evacuated, including those in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Turkey.
Earlier on Friday, during the rally for International al-Quds Day in Tehran, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) Major General Hossein Salami vowed that Iran would punish "Israel" for its crime.
It is noteworthy that shortly after the Israeli aggression on Damascus, the Biden administration was quick to claim that "Tel Aviv" did not notify Washington about the strike, and that it does not support attacks on diplomatic missions.
In the same context, CBS News reported that intelligence gathered by the US indicates that Iran is planning a retaliatory strike, potentially involving a combination of Shahed loitering drones and cruise missiles.
The news website cited US officials as saying that while the exact timing and target remain unknown, the Iranian response to the Damascus attack would involve targeting an Israeli diplomatic facility, adding that the anticipated attack is expected to occur sometime between now and the end of the month of Ramadan next week.
In addition, NBC News cited two US officials as saying that any Iranian retaliation is likely to focus on Israeli military or intelligence targets, adding that the Biden administration is exploring various options for responding to potential retaliatory actions by Iran.
On Friday, an official in the Iranian Presidency Office, Mohammad Jamshidi, revealed that Tehran has warned the United States against getting dragged into a trap set by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that would "hurt" Washington.
"In a written message, the Islamic Republic of Iran warns US leadership not to get dragged in Netanyahu's trap for the US: Stay away so you won't get hurt. In response, US asked Iran not to target American facilities," Jamshidi, a political affairs assistant to the Iranian President, Ebrahim Raisi, posted on X.
Read more: Iran response to consulate attack definetly coming: Sayyed Nasrallah
