Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel: US official

Protesters and members of the Iranian paramilitary’s Basij forces march next to a ballistic missile on display during an anti-Israel rally in Tehran in November 2023.

Iran is preparing to launch an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel, a senior White House official said on Tuesday. The move could further plunge the Middle East into even more conflict.

“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” the official said in a statement shared with B-17.

“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack,” the official added. “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”

The warning of a potential attack comes after the Israeli military announced the start of a “limited” ground operation inside Lebanon, a development that followed a complex attack on Iran-backed Hezbollah via communication devices and Israel’s subsequent killing Hassan Nasrallah, the militant group’s leader, in an airstrike in Beirut.

The targeting of its proxies has caused frustration in Iran. Israel previously assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas’ political wing, in Tehran in July, prompting warnings that Iran would retaliate.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned at the United Nations last week that any direct attack by Iran would be met with a response from Israel.

An Israeli military spokesperson said the US informed the country about the imminent attack, but no projectiles had been launched. “We are at the highest readiness — offensive and defensive,” Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.

The US Embassy in Jerusalem issued a security alert directing all US government employees and their families “to shelter in place until further notice.”

Bond yields and stocks tumbled on the news, with major US equity indexes falling more than 1%. Safe haven assets like gold surged, as did oil prices, which rose on speculation the conflict could limit production.

The warning of an imminent attack on Israel by Iran comes amid a significant increase in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Tehran’s key proxy force in the region that plays a significant deterrence role.

The US, while it has been unsuccessfully attempting to de-esclate soaring tensions, has repeatedly said that it is ready to defend Israel and its own forces in the region from any attack by Iran or its regional proxies. American forces shot down scores of projectiles when Tehran attacked Israel with hundreds of missiles and drones in April.

The US has a wide range of assets positioned in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean that can protect Israel again, including warships and fighter aircraft, and more warplanes are on their way.