USA: Iran is preparing for an attack on Israel

2024-10-01 16:52:23, Kosova & Bota CNA

Iran is preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel "soon", according to a senior US administration official. The official also warned of "serious consequences" if the attack takes place. The announcement came after the Israeli military began what it said was a limited ground operation against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. Israel warned residents to leave several dozen villages bordering Lebanon with Israel.

Iran will face severe consequences if it launches a ballistic missile attack, a White House official said, speaking to the US press on condition of anonymity.

The official said Tehran appeared to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel at any moment.

Iran's state media has not announced any imminent attack. Iranian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said the army is ready to defend itself and added that Israel and its allies are on high alert and any attack by Iran would have consequences.

A few hours before this announcement, Mr. Hagari said that the Israeli army had started a partial ground operation in some Lebanese border villages. The purpose of the operation is to hit areas controlled by the militant group Hezbollah, which has the support of Iran. The Hezbollah group has been declared a terrorist organization by the United States.

"Hezbollah turned Lebanese villages near Israeli villages into military bases from which it can carry out attacks on Israel. Hezbollah was prepared to use them as staging grounds for an October 7-type attack on Israeli homes," said Daniel Hagari, Israeli army spokesman

The escalation of the situation has alerted several countries to the risk of a full-scale war.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Tuesday that the cost of a regional war would be "huge".

"We are talking to our Iranian colleagues and counterparts. None of us want to see a regional war. The price would be huge for the Middle East and it would also have an impact on the global economy," said British top diplomat Lammy.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged that the coming days will not be easy.

"We have tough days ahead of us, challenging days, and I think we've sent people there that we can trust," Minister Gallant said.

Both sides have continued air attacks on each other.

A rocket fired from Lebanon hit one of the main highways east of Tel Aviv, police said on Tuesday, adding that three people were injured.

On the other hand, successive large explosions were heard throughout the Lebanese capital shortly after midnight on Monday as the Israeli army carried out attacks in the southern suburbs of the city. Several countries have begun to remove their citizens from Lebanon.

On a beach in Beirut, a displaced Lebanese woman and her four-year-old daughter have taken shelter under makeshift tents, fleeing Israeli bombardment.

People are dying and being destroyed, children are being torn to pieces," says displaced Lebanese Zeina Nazha.

Meanwhile, Israeli residents of the border town of Kiryat Shmona welcomed the ground operation in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, hoping it would allow them to return to their homes. Almost 1 year has passed since they were forced to leave because of rocket attacks by the Hezbollah group.

"This is exactly what we wanted, maybe a little late, but better late than never," says Kiryat Shmona resident Omri Gigi.

Israel has dealt a heavy blow to Hezbollah, the most powerful Iranian-backed group in the Middle East, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week. Lebanon has announced over 1,000 killed during several days of Israeli bombardment/VOA