US says Iran preparing to attack Israel with ballistic missiles

The U.S. has indications that Iran is preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel in the next 12 hours, according to a senior White House official.

The U.S. is actively supporting preparations to defend Israel against the possible strike, which would carry severe consequences for Iran, said the official, who asked not to be identified. Israeli state-run Kan News reported that preparations are being made for a “wide scale” Iranian attack on security facilities, which may also damage civilian targets.

The warning comes after Israeli forces moved into southern Lebanon in an escalation of its campaign against Tehran-backed Hezbollah. An Israeli military spokesman said that the country was prepared for both defensive and offensive operations. Iran’s foreign minister didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Any strike by Iran would be its second direct attack on Israel in almost six months. The first in April did minimal damage, partly because it was telegraphed in advance and involved slower moving missiles and drones, helping the Israeli air force shoot down the vast majority of projectiles with help from the U.S., UK, France and Jordan. Under pressure from the U.S., Israel’s response was limited to a strike on an Iranian airbase.

While the U.S. official said it expects the attack to be similar in scope to April, Israel anticipates a strike will be more substantial, according to a person familiar with the government’s strategy.

Markets reacted sharply. Oil prices surged about 4% after news of the potential strike, while gold and Treasuries also rose. The S&P 500 plunged by more than 1%, although stocks of U.S. weapons-makers rose with Northrop Grumman Corp., Lockheed Martin Corp. and RTX Corp. all erasing earlier losses to trade at least 2% higher.

The U.S. has beefed up its military posture in the Middle East as the conflict has escalated, and announced Monday it would send an additional few thousand troops to the region, including additional fighter jet squadrons. In a call between U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant late Monday, the two discussed the “serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel,” according to a readout of the call.

Israeli troops overnight began what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government said were “targeted ground raids” alongside airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs, and the army later reported “intense fighting.” Hezbollah fired a salvo of rockets in response and millions of Israelis have moved to shelters, the Israel Defense Forces has said.

Israel’s confrontation with Iran through Hezbollah escalated on Friday after the assassination of the group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in a massive airstrike in southern Beirut.

Iran has vowed to strike Israel in retaliation, as well as for the suspected-Israeli killing of Hamas’ political leader while in Tehran, although its response has so far been restrained.

Israeli Defense Minister Gallant said Tuesday that the army is widening its operations with the aim of dismantling Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force, after ground raids started shortly before midnight local time. Lebanese media said heavy shelling took place in four villages, and dozens of vehicles left border towns after the Israeli army told residents to leave.

—With assistance from Arsalan Shahla, Sydney Maki, Richard Clough, Natalia Drozdiak, Golnar Motevalli and Alisa Odenheimer.