tel aviv –Israel is preparing for the worst-case scenario that U.S. officials believe could materialize within hours. Possibility of a direct attack on Israeli soil by Iran The attack was in retaliation for an attack nearly two weeks ago that killed seven Iranian military officers. Iran has vowed to avenge Israel's attack on its embassy in the Syrian capital on April 1, in which its commanders were killed.
Two U.S. officials told CBS News that a major Iranian attack on Israel is expected on Friday, including more than 100 drones and dozens of missiles aimed at military targets in the country. He said it may include missiles. Officials told CBS News that retaliation could include attacks by both Iranian and Iranian forces. Proxy groups within a region They have been adding additional weapons for weeks.
Officials have said it would be difficult for Israel to defend against such a large-scale attack and have suggested that Iran may opt for smaller attacks to avoid dramatic escalation, but could not retaliate. is believed to be imminent. .
Asked Friday how imminent he thought an attack was, President Biden said: “I don't want to get into classified information, but I expect it sooner or later.” The president urged Iran not to move forward, saying the message to Iran was “fuck off.”
It is unclear how far Iranian leaders will go, as the government has not publicly indicated how or when it will counterattack. If they decide to carry out a direct attack on Israel, they threaten to damage the state of Israel. ongoing war The conflict with Iran's ally Hamas escalates into a broader regional conflict.
With Iranian retaliation expected at any time, the U.S. State Department on Thursday advised Americans living in Israel not to travel outside major cities, which are better protected from rocket attacks by the country's Iron Dome missile defense system. I warned you. The latest guidance notes that travel to Israel for U.S. government personnel may be further restricted without notice as the situation in the crater area evolves.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops at an IDF air base on Thursday and vowed: “Whoever hurts us, we will hurt them too.” “We’re ready defensively and offensively.”
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Sima Shine, a security expert and former employee of Israel's national intelligence agency Mossad, told CBS News that this is a dangerous moment for the region and that she is “the most concerned.” He said fears of all-out war were likely rising “in both Israel and Iran alike.”
If Iran chooses to attack Israel directly, it could use complex missile and drone attacks similar to those used by Iranian forces. Launched against Saudi Arabian oil facilities in 2019.
“They're going to try it against the military or some kind of military asset,” Shine predicted. “But the issue will be damage. If there are a lot of injuries, casualties or not… I think it could escalate into a major situation.”
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But Shine stressed that he still believes neither side actually wants a regional conflict.
US: 'We're really trying to avoid war'
The United States sent a senior general to Israel this week to coordinate any response to the Iranian attack with close U.S. allies. “We're really trying to avoid war,” America's military chief told “CBS Morning” on Friday.
“This is part of our dialogue with our partners in the region, including the Israeli Secretary of Defense who spoke yesterday,” said Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adding that the United States: The military was “not just trying to prevent war, but at the same time, one of my main jobs was to make sure that all the forces in the region were protected.”
“My role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is to plan and prepare,” Brown said. “That's one of the things we do a lot.”
The Israeli military announced on Friday that Prime Minister Brown's counterpart, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Helj Halevi, had “completed a comprehensive situational assessment of the IDF's readiness for all scenarios.”
“The Israel Defense Forces are extremely well prepared for any threat, both offensively and defensively,” Halevi said in a statement. “The IDF continues to closely monitor what is happening in Iran and in various areas, and remains ready to work with U.S. forces to address existing and potential threats.”
The IDF said the visiting U.S. military commander, Gen. Michael Eric Kurilla, commander of Central Command, was participating in the IDF's assessment of the situation.
Israeli expert Shine said the dilemma for Iran is to figure out how to carry out its promised response to Israeli attacks in Syria in a way that does not lead to further escalation. Similarly, Shine said Israel could choose to show restraint if it responds to whatever Iran ends up doing.
A misbalance on either side could have dire consequences for the region, and even the world.
Weijia Jiang, David Martin, Margaret Brennan and Olivia Gazis contributed reporting.
