Iran could strike Israel this week, says White House

White House officials said  that Iran could launch a strike on Israel as soon as this week, so the United States and its allies are preparing for “a significant set of attacks.”

These comments, made by National Security spokesman John Kirby at a press briefing, corroborate a new assessment from the Israeli intelligence community first reported Sunday by Axios political reporter Barak Ravid. Two sources in the community believe Iran plans to “attack Israel directly” in retaliation “for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh,” according to Ravid.

An Iranian retaliation may occur “even before the Aug. 15 hostage deal talks,” Ravid added.

The assassination of Haniyeh has become a flashpoint in the already volatile region. While Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement, both Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel for the killing. This accusation has fueled fears that the conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip could spiral into a wider war, dragging other regional players into the fray.

In an unusual public statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson clarified that despite the recent reports regarding Iran’s plans, there has been no change in the directives from the Home Front Command.

However, the IDF and other security establishments remain on high alert, closely monitoring developments in Iran and Hezbollah.