U.S. says Iran plans missile launch ‘imminently’ against Israel

The potential attack would mark the latest escalation between the two countries and comes after Israel began a ground incursion in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The U.S. says it has indications Iran is planning to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel in the latest escalation between the two countries, a senior White House official told Global News.

“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” the official wrote.

Amid the threat, the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem has directed all government employees and family members to shelter in place until further notice.

It’s not the first direct attack on Israel that Iran has launched, having firing projectiles in April though few reached their targets. Many were shot down while others appeared to fail at launch or crashed while in flight.

In a statement on Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was facing “large challenges” as it fights an Iranian axis. He urged the public to listen to public safety guidelines from the military’s Home Front Command, but did not make direct mention of the missile threat.

U.S. ships and aircraft are already positioned in the region to assist Israel in the event of an attack from Iran. There are three U.S. Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean Sea, an aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Oman and fighter jets arrayed throughout the region. All have the abilities to shoot down incoming missiles.

The potential threat from Iran comes a day after the Israeli military began what they called limited, localized and targeted raids against Iran-backed Hezbollah in the border area of southern Lebanon.

That day, Netanyahu warned Iran that there was “nowhere we will not go to protect our people and protect our country,” accusing the Iranian government of plunging the Middle East “deeper into war” at the expense of its own people.