Israeli authorities are preparing for a possible direct Iranian attack in retaliation for a strike on the Iranian embassy in the Syrian capital nearly a fortnight ago that killed seven Iranian military personnel, CBS News reports.
Two US officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack on Israel is expected as early as Friday. It is expected to involve more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets inside the country.
Officials said it would be difficult for the Israelis to defend themselves against an attack of that scale, and while they concede the possibility that the Iranians might choose a smaller attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, their retaliation is believed to be imminent.
Tehran has not publicly indicated how or when it would return fire, so it is unclear what Iran’s response would be. If the Iranians decide to directly attack Israel, it could escalate Israel’s war with Iranian ally Hamas into a wider regional conflict.
The US State Department on Thursday warned Americans in Israel not to travel outside major cities, which are better protected from rocket fire by the Iron Dome missile defence system. The latest advisory notes that travel by US government employees to Israel could be further restricted without notice as the situation in the region evolves.
“Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Thursday as he visited troops at an Israel Defense Forces airbase. “We are prepared… both defensively and offensively.”
Sima Shine, a security expert and former member of Israel’s national intelligence agency, Mossad, told CBS News that this is a dangerous moment for the region and “the most worrisome” she has ever experienced. She said worries about all-out war are probably just as great “on both sides, in Israel and in Iran.”
If Iran decides to launch a direct strike on Israel, it could be a comprehensive drone missile attack similar to the one Iranian forces launched against an oil facility in Saudi Arabia in 2019.
Israeli expert Shine believes the dilemma for Iran is to figure out how to deliver the promised response to an Israeli attack in Syria, but in a way that does not lead to further escalation. Similarly, Shain said, Israel could show restraint in response to any Iranian action. If either side upset the balance, the consequences for the region and even the world could be dire.
