As diplomatic efforts continue to prevent the region from slipping into a widespread war following the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr in the southern suburb of Beirut, the Wall Street Journal reported that signals indicate Tehran is preparing to launch an attack in the coming days.
The newspaper quoted U.S. officials who noted that since the weekend, Iran has begun moving missile launch platforms and conducting military exercises, which may suggest that Tehran is getting ready to attack soon.
The Biden administration is working to deter any potential Iranian attack on Israel but faces a new set of challenges in its efforts to replicate the success it achieved in April when a multinational coalition helped Israel intercept a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones.
Iran has already indicated that it plans to respond to Israel for the killing of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which causes Biden administration officials to worry that this time, an Iranian attack could be accompanied by strikes from Hezbollah, Lebanese militias, and other Tehran proxies in an attempt to confuse Israeli defenses.
The United States now faces the task of defending Israel from another Iranian attack if deterrence fails while also continuing its efforts to restore stability to the region, the newspaper said. The possibility of war could hinder President Biden's already faltering efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has become central to his diplomacy in the Middle East and his foreign policy legacy.
Senior U.S. officials are urging Tehran so far not to escalate the conflict for fear of dragging the region into a "full-scale war."
During a National Security Council meeting at the White House to brief President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on the latest developments in the region, a knowledgeable U.S. official stated that the National Security Council informed Biden and Harris that it is unclear when Iran and Hezbollah are likely to launch an attack on Israel or what the details of any potential attack would be.
U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller stated on Monday that the United States has urged certain countries through diplomatic channels to inform Iran that escalation in the Middle East is not in its interest, which Secretary of State Antony Blinken described as a "critical moment" for the region.
