New Delhi: Nearly four months after Iran’s missile launch towards Israel on April 13, Jerusalem and Washington are bracing for another potential weekend assault from Tehran and its allies. This comes in retaliation for the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.
The United States has begun deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to safeguard US personnel and fortify Israel’s defence, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. The AP cites Pentagon officials in stating that more cruisers and destroyers capable of ballistic missile defence are also being positioned.
According to reports, the Biden administration is certain that Iran will launch an attack on Israel possibly by this weekend. There is concern that this attack could be more extensive and intricate than the April 13 retaliation for a Syrian airstrike that eliminated a high-ranking Iranian general.
Adding to the tension, Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah pledged a response to the Israeli airstrike in Beirut earlier this week, which resulted in the death of commander Fuad Shukr.
The April offensive was a counteraction to an Israeli airstrike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus, which resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including a senior commander.
During that time, Israel garnered support from several Arab nations, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia, which assisted in intercepting Iranian and Houthi drones. These countries also permitted the US and Israel to utilize their airspace for missile interception.
Nevertheless, in light of Haniyeh’s assassination, which has elicited widespread criticism throughout the Middle East, the US anticipates challenges in securing similar levels of cooperation, according to Axios.
A senior Israeli official informed Axios of the intelligence community’s expectation of an extensive missile attack on Israel. Meanwhile, an IDF spokesperson has indicated that international partners have reinforced their presence in the region.
In light of concerns over an escalating regional conflict in the Middle East, numerous US and international carriers, Air India among them, have halted flights to Israel.
