The Biden administration is bracing for a potential Iranian attack on Israel in response to the recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. According to three U.S. officials speaking with Axios, the administration anticipates that Iran's retaliation could mirror the pattern of their April 13 assault on Israel, albeit on a potentially larger scale, and may involve Lebanese Hezbollah.
Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have indicated that retaliation for Haniyeh's assassination is imminent. Hezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah has also promised to strike back following an Israeli airstrike in Beirut that targeted and killed one of his senior military advisers.
The Biden administration faces challenges in rallying the same international and regional support that was present during the previous Iranian attack. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and recent assassinations have heightened anti-Israel sentiments, complicating coalition-building efforts. The April attack was in response to an Israeli strike on an Iranian facility in Damascus that resulted in the death of a high-ranking Iranian general. During that incident, several Arab nations, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, supported efforts to intercept Iranian and Houthi drones or allowed the use of their airspace.
U.S. intelligence agencies have begun receiving clear signals that Iran is preparing a counterstrike, with indications that it might take a few days for Iran and its allies to coordinate a response. The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command are making preparations similar to those undertaken in April, focusing on military assets in the Gulf, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Red Sea. An Israeli official has suggested that Iran might initiate a large-scale missile assault on Israel.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari of the Israel Defense Forces reported that international partners are enhancing their regional forces to help counter potential threats. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan acknowledged the risk of a broader regional conflict and stated that the administration is working intensely to deter escalation and pursue diplomatic solutions.
At the funeral for his slain adviser, Nasrallah vowed a significant response against Israel and indicated that Iran, along with pro-Iranian groups such as Shia militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, would retaliate. He emphasized that the conflict has evolved into a multi-front campaign.
In response to the escalating tensions, several international airlines, including United, Delta, Lufthansa, and Swiss, have suspended flights to and from Israel. The Israeli military remains on high alert, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu overseeing preparations and asserting that Israel is ready to respond decisively to any aggression.
