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Iran has reportedly launched a missile attack on Israel, according to the Israeli military.
This announcement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) follows a warning from a White House official to NBC News that the United States had observed indications that Iran was preparing to “imminently” launch a ballistic missile strike against Israel, coinciding with Israel’s ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
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The White House official cautioned that any direct attack on Israel by Iran “will carry severe consequences for Iran.”
“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to protect Israel against this attack,” the official stated.
Additionally, both the White House and Defense Department officials indicated that Iran is expected to target military and government sites rather than civilian locations.
President Joe Biden met with Vice President Kamala Harris and national security officials Tuesday afternoon to discuss the anticipated attack, according to the White House.
“They reviewed the status of U.S. preparations to help Israel defend against attacks and protect U.S. personnel,” said White House senior deputy press secretary Emilie Simons in a social media post.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has directed all government employees and their families in Israel to “shelter in place until further notice.”
In a related advisory, the embassy reminded U.S. citizens of the ongoing need for caution and increased personal security awareness, as security incidents—including mortar and rocket fire and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions—can occur without warning.
“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events,” the notice stated.
Iran’s planned attack comes as Israeli ground forces have crossed into southern Lebanon as part of an operation against Hezbollah, the militant group backed by Iran.
An Israeli official told NBC News that the number of troops entering Lebanon is “in the low hundreds.”
Last week, Israel killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah in a bombing in Beirut. In response, Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that the killings of Nasrallah and a senior Revolutionary Guards commander “will not go unanswered,” claiming the United States was “complicit in this crime.”
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