In response to Iran’s escalating threats against Israel, the US and its allies are bolstering military support for Tel Aviv, strengthening its defences ahead of a possible attack.
Reportedly, Israel is expecting a major Iranian attack within days. On Sunday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant discussed the military preparations and operational and strategic coordination.
Austin has ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East amid tensions. The US military had said it would deploy additional fighter jets and Navy warships to the region.
Citing two unnamed sources, the Axios news site reported Israel’s current assessment was that Iran would launch a direct attack on the country within days, possibly before resuming the Gaza ceasefire talks. “Iran was making preparations for a large-scale military attack,” Axios reported.
Pentagon in a statement said that Austin also ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, equipped with F-35 fighters, to accelerate its deployment to the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Iran’s official news agency said its elite Revolutionary Guards were holding a military drill in the country’s west that would continue till Tuesday. The drills, which began on Friday, were going on in the province of Kermanshah, close to the border with Iraq.
Iran has vowed retaliatory strikes against Israel after the assassination of Hamas's top leader Ismail Haniyeh on July 31. So far, Israel has not claimed any responsibility for the attack.
President Masoud Pezeshkian wanted to avoid a ‘harsh response’, however, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps wanted to launch a larger attack compared to the strike in April. Lebanon’s Hezbollah has also vowed to strike against Israel after the death of its top military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Meanwhile, Israel has ordered a massive evacuation in southern Gaza amid intensifying attacks. After the recent Gaza school attack, that killed around 100 people, the US vice-president Kamala Harris stressed that "far too many civilians" had been killed.
"Israel has a right to go after the terrorists that are Hamas...But as I have said many, many times, they also have, I believe, an important responsibility to avoid civilian casualties."
Amid tensions, the US and other allies are pushing for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire. UK, France and Germany called for ‘no further delay’ to the Gaza ceasefire. In a joint statement on Monday, they endorsed the US, Qatar and Egypt to broker an agreement to end the war.
“The fighting must end now, and all hostages still detained by Hamas must be released. The people of Gaza need urgent and unfettered delivery and distribution of aid,” the statement said.
