US Warns Iran of Severe Consequences Amid Imminent Missile Threat on Israel

The United States has issued a warning that Iran is preparing a ballistic missile strike against Israel, a senior US official revealed on Tuesday. The White House cautioned Tehran that any such attack would lead to “severe” repercussions.

This comes as Israel has intensified its military efforts, launching a ground offensive in Lebanon to target the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah following the death of its leader Hassan Nasrallah in an Israeli airstrike last week.

A senior White House official, speaking anonymously to AFP, said, “We have indications that Iran is imminently planning to launch a missile attack on Israel. We are actively assisting Israel in defensive preparations to counter this threat.”

The US, along with Western allies, previously aided Israel in April, defending against a combined Iranian missile and drone attack following an Israeli strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

The official emphasised, “A direct military strike from Iran will have severe consequences for Tehran.”

While Iran condemned Nasrallah’s killing and threatened Israel’s destruction, the country’s foreign ministry clarified that it would not send troops to fight Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Iran on Monday, asserting, “There is no place in the Middle East that Israel cannot reach,” adding that Iran’s fall might come sooner than anticipated.

A missile strike from Iran would heighten concerns of a broader regional conflict, a scenario that global powers, including the US, are keen to avoid. Despite calling for a ceasefire, President Joe Biden has shown cautious support for Israel’s military actions aimed at neutralising Hezbollah.

Hezbollah, which has launched low-level attacks on Israeli forces since October 7, following Hamas’ unprecedented attack, continues its cross-border exchanges with Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.