The US has said indications suggest that Iran is preparing to “imminently” launch a “ballistic missile” on Israel.
AFP has cited a US official warning that any attack by Tehran on Israel will have severe consequences for Iran,” Axios and Reuters are also reporting senior White House official is warning of an Iranian strike.
CNN’s White House correspondent MJ Lee said that an official said an attack on Israel is imminent, he wrote on X, “The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel.
“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.”
Israel says it hasn’t detected an “aerial threat” launched from Iran but its military is at “peak readiness” for any attack.
A short time ago, a senior White House official told our US partner network NBC news that Washington has indications that Iran is getting ready to launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel imminently (see 14.57 post).
Israeli army spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel has “dealt with this kind of threat in the past and we will deal with it now as well.
“I want to repeat this again: we still do not detect an aerial threat launched from Iran.”
He added, Israel’s air defence systems are “fully equipped with air force planes currently patrolling the sky.
“We are at peak readiness in attack and defence. We are at a very high level of readiness together with our partners from the United States, our ally. We are following the developments in Iran together.”
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The British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said, “We are urging restraint.
“None of us want to see a regional war, the price would be huge for the Middle East and it would have a significant effect on the global economy.”
Lammy said the situation in Lebanon is Febrile and fragile” and urged all Brits to leave whilst they still can, this window of opportunity is closing fast.
Speaking to reporters Lammy said, “I have warned and cautioned now for months that we have seen in previous crises between Israel and Lebanon the airport close.”
The Foreign Secretary added, “we cannot guarantee that we will be able to get people out in speedy fashion.”
Shadow home secretary James Cleverly said on Tuesday that he supports Israels “incursion into Lebanon.”
Cleverly told Sky News, “Israel has the right to defend itself. Israel has been at the receiving end of rockets from [Hezbollah], who are embedded within Lebanese society,” he added, Hezbollah was conducting “huge damage”.
“My support has always come with the caveat that Israel must continue to adhere to international humanitarian law, but they absolutely have the right to defend themselves.”
On Tuesday morning the US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J Austin and the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a call to discuss “serious consequences in event Iran chooses to launch direct military attack against Israel.”
The US Government said in a release,
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on September 30 to review security developments and Israeli operations. Secretary Austin reaffirmed U.S. support for Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran, Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other Iran-backed terrorist organizations.
They agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hizballah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities. The Secretary reaffirmed that a diplomatic resolution is required to ensure that civilians can return safely to their homes on both sides of the border.
He and Minister Gallant discussed the importance of ultimately pivoting from military operations to a diplomatic pathway to provide security and stability as soon as feasible.
The Secretary made clear that the United States is well postured to defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations, and determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict.
The Secretary and Minister Gallant discussed the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel.
