The threat comes as Israel launches a ground incursion against the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israel killed longtime Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in airstrikes last week.
Iranians hold pictures of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed in an Israeli air strike on Beirut's southern suburbs on Sept. 27, during an anti-Israel protest in Palestine Square in Tehran on Sept. 30.A senior White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss security issues, said there were indications Iran was preparing for the imminent launch of a ballistic missile attack.
“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 said. In Israel, the U.S. Embassy put out an alert calling for all"U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place until further notice."The threat builds on existing tensions across the region, as Israel fights with Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and continues its war in Gaza against Hamas — both groups backed by Iran.
Hezbollah began firing rockets into northern Israel last Oct. 8 – one day after Hamas launched a major attack into southern Israel. Hezbollah describes its effort as an act of solidarity with the Palestinians. Over the past year, Israel and Hezbollah have been firing most every day across the Israel-Lebanon border. But the shooting remained at a relatively low level until Israel unleashed a much larger campaign two weeks ago.Iran has not yet responded militarily to the latest Israeli actions against Hezbollah, a group Iran helped found, train and arm for the past four decades.with more than 300 drones and missiles, but nearly all were intercepted by Israel and its allies, including the United States.
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