Follow-up – Al-Rashid
Bloomberg, citing people familiar with intelligence information, said that the United States and its allies believe that an Iranian response to the Israeli attack on the Tehran consulate in Damascus is imminent.
Bloomberg, citing sources who requested anonymity to discuss confidential matters, added that “the attacks that Tehran or its agents are likely to carry out in the region will target military and government sites in Israel.”
The sources reported that the possible attack may take place in the coming days using high-precision missiles.
One person said it was seen as a matter of when rather than if, based on US and Israeli intelligence assessments.
Iran threatened to strike Israel in response to an attack on a diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital, Damascus, last week, which led to the killing of senior Iranian military officials.
Israel did not admit that it was behind this attack, although it has traditionally followed a policy of ambiguity regarding operations in Syria, Lebanon and elsewhere.
The sources explain that Israel’s Western allies have been informed that Israeli government and military facilities may be targeted, but civilian facilities are not expected to be struck.
The same sources indicated that American officials are assisting Israel in planning and exchanging intelligence assessments.
Israel has informed its allies that it is waiting for this attack to occur before launching another ground offensive against Hamas in Rafah in southern Gaza, although it is not clear when this operation might begin.
In this context, she mentioned that American and Western intelligence agencies believe that the Iranian response may not necessarily emanate from northern Israel, where Hezbollah is located.
One of the people said that foreign diplomatic missions are already preparing for possible strikes and making contingency plans for evacuation amid requests from Israeli authorities for emergency supplies such as generators and satellite phones, noting that they are not aware of any Western missions planning immediate evacuation.
Last Monday, Israeli aircraft targeted the Iranian consulate building in Damascus, causing major destruction there and in neighboring buildings and killing everyone inside the building, including the two Brigadier Generals of the Revolutionary Guard, Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, and 5 of the officers accompanying them.
