April 6 :
According to a senior administration official, the United States is currently on high alert and making active preparations for a potentially "significant" attack from Iran. This attack could occur within the next week and would likely target Israeli or American assets in the region. The motive behind this potential attack is in response to the Israeli strike in Damascus on Monday, which resulted in the deaths of prominent Iranian commanders.
According to a senior US official, it is currently believed that an assault by Iran is "inevitable." This belief is also held by Israeli officials. Both governments are diligently preparing in advance for the anticipated strike from Iran, recognising the potential for several methods of attack and the vulnerability of US and Israeli assets and soldiers.
The anticipation of an imminent Iranian assault was a significant subject of conversation during President Joe Biden's telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.
According to the person, as of Friday, both governments were unaware of Iran's intentions about the timing and method of their retaliatory strike.
The Biden administration is preparing for the possibility of a direct attack on Israel by Iran, which is considered one of the most severe scenarios. Such an attack would undoubtedly lead to a swift escalation of the already volatile situation in the Middle East. A potential military attack has the potential to escalate the Israel-Hamas conflict into a larger, regional war - a situation that President Biden has been actively trying to prevent.
Following a prolonged period of frequent drone, rocket, and missile attacks on US installations, Iranian proxies launched an assault against US forces in Iraq and Syria two months ago. Since then, there has been a period of relative stability. On Tuesday, there was only one instance where US forces successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone near the al-Tanf base in Syria. The Defence Department attributed the drone attack to Iranian proxies, and it occurred in response to the Israeli raid on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
"We have determined that al-Tanf was not the intended target of the drone," stated a defence official on Tuesday. "Due to our inability to promptly identify the intended target and to ensure the safety of the United States and our coalition allies, the drone was deliberately destroyed."
The incident occurred following the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus on Monday. However, an Israel Defence Forces spokesperson informed that their intelligence indicated that the structure was not a consulate, but rather a military facility of the Quds forces disguised as a residential building.
Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes on targets in Syria that are supported by Iran, with the aim of disrupting the delivery of weaponry to Hezbollah, a potent Iranian proxy in Lebanon. However, the deliberate attack on the embassy itself signifies a notable escalation, as embassies are regarded as the sovereign territory of the countries they represent.
Iran pledged to retaliate following Israel's aerial attack on Iran's embassy compound in Syria, resulting in the deaths of at least seven personnel. Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a high-ranking officer in Iran's prestigious Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, a senior commander, were among the individuals who lost their lives, as confirmed by Iran's Foreign Ministry.
According to Iranian official media, a minimum of six Syrian citizens were also reported to have been slain on Tuesday.
Zahedi, a previous leader of the IRGC's ground forces, air force, and the deputy commander of its operations, is the most prominent Iranian individual assassinated since then-US President Donald Trump authorised the death of IRGC Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020.
The United States promptly notified Iran that the Biden administration was not implicated in and had no prior awareness of the strike on the embassy that occurred on Monday. Furthermore, the US has cautioned Iran from targeting American assets.
A representative from the National Security Council informed earlier this week that the United States had no participation in the strike and was not aware of it in advance.
A spokesperson from the State Department said on Friday that the United States has cautioned Iran against using the Israeli strike in Damascus as an excuse to target American people and installations.
According to the spokeswoman, the warning was issued in reply to a communication received from Iran. According to a senior administration official, Iran's communication to the US regarding the Damascus strike placed the blame on the US. However, it remains uncertain whether Iran transmitted any more information to the US in that initial message.
Mohammad Jamshidi, the deputy chief of staff of the Iranian president, issued a written warning to the US leadership on X Friday. The message from the Islamic Republic of Iran advises the US to avoid falling into Netanyahu's trap and to stay away in order to avoid harm. In response, the United States requested that Iran refrain from targeting American installations.
The State Department spokesman informed that Iran had openly acknowledged sending a message to the United States, in response to a question regarding Jamshidi's article. "In response, we issued a cautionary message to Iran, advising them against using this incident as a justification to launch an assault on US personnel and facilities." We did not inquire.
A high-ranking government official summarised the United States' caution to Iran as follows: "Do not contemplate initiating aggression against us."
The State Department official refrained from disclosing any details regarding the method by which the United States transmitted its message to Iran.
The United States accords a unique status to its own embassies and consulates abroad, as well as to the embassies and consulates of foreign countries within the United States. As to the US State Department, an assault on an embassy is regarded as an assault on the nation it represents.
According to the Pentagon's Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, the United States' evaluation is that Israel was responsible for conducting the airstrike.
"That is our evaluation, and we also conclude that a small number of top leaders from the IRGC were present." "I am unable to verify those identities, but that is our current preliminary evaluation," stated Singh.
Israel has escalated its military offensive against Iran and its affiliated groups in the region in response to the October 7 assault on Israel by Hamas, a Palestinian group supported by Tehran. This onslaught resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 individuals and the abduction of over 200 hostages.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, Israel's ensuing conflict has resulted in the death of over 32,800 individuals, caused extensive damage, and pushed more than 1 million people to the verge of a famine caused by human actions.
