Iran is reportedly aiming to attack Israel from Iraqi territory within the next week, according to both Israeli and Iranian sources.
Israeli intelligence expects Iran will strike with the help of pro-Iranian militia groups in Iraq and use drones and ballistic missiles, Axios reported today.
A separate report from CNN also said Iran is planning an attack, citing an anonymous high-ranking source in the Iranian government.
“The response of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the aggression of the Zionist regime will be definitive and painful,” the CNN source said.
The source said Iran will likely strike before the United States presidential election, which will be held on November 5.
Iran launched around 180 missiles towards Israel on October 1, its largest ever attack on the country. The missiles were largely intercepted by Israel and the U.S., with no deaths reported in Israel and one civilian killed in the West Bank.
Israel then responded on October 25, sending dozens of fighter jets to strike Iranian military facilities. According to Iran, this attack caused limited damage.
“Iran should not respond to Israel’s retaliation,” White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said when asked about the CNN report. “If Iran does choose to respond, however, the US will be standing by to assist Israel in its defence.”
“As we have made clear publicly, and I can tell you that Iran knows this message quite clearly, they should not continue to escalate this conflict,” said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.