Israel prepares for possible attack on Iran within days, Tehran threatens: Our response will be harsher

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that intensive consultations are being held at the political and security levels in preparation for an attack on Iran that is likely to be carried out in the coming days. Meanwhile, the Iranian president said that Tehran's response will be harsher.

While the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted political sources as saying that the security cabinet had decided to implement what it described as a harsh response to the Iranian attack. This comes as the New York Times spoke about the options for a possible Israeli strike, ruling out striking Iranian nuclear facilities.

Yedioth Ahronoth indicated that the response to Iran may include more than one option and does not necessarily have to be through air strikes, and quoted an Israeli source as saying that Tel Aviv should not go too far in its response, but the source said: "It will be much stronger than the response to the attack of April" last year.

The newspaper also quoted the source as saying that this Israeli decision is not certain to be agreed upon by the United States, but Washington - according to the source - knows that Tel Aviv must respond.

Meanwhile, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted political sources as saying - quoting the Security Cabinet - that the Israeli response to Iran "will be harsh, but will not lead to a regional war."

She pointed out that several factors affect the expected response, including the US elections, and explained that the political and security levels are currently holding consultations on how to respond to Iran.

Israeli response options

Regarding the nature of the expected Israeli response, an American official said that among the response options are striking groups supported by Tehran or directing a strike against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces in Yemen or Syria.

The New York Times quoted Israeli officials as saying that Tel Aviv is not currently planning to strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The newspaper, quoting Israeli and American officials, indicated that Tel Aviv may target oil production sites and Iranian military bases.

The same sources pointed out that Tel Aviv has not yet made a decision on how to respond to the Iranian attack, and the newspaper reported that the nature of the response may not become clear until after the Jewish New Year holiday until Friday evening, indicating that Israel will determine the extent of the response based on the level of practical and rhetorical American support.

In the same context, US President Joe Biden said that he would discuss with the Israelis what they would do, "and we agree on their right to respond, but it should be proportionate." Biden added that he does not support an attack on Iranian nuclear sites.

Politico quoted US administration officials as saying that the Biden administration is seeking to reduce the size of the Israeli response rather than prevent it completely. The officials added that Biden's anger has recently increased as his influence over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has diminished, and calls between them have turned into arguments.

Iran: Our response will be harsher

For his part, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that his country wants peace, but if Israel responds to the attack launched by his country, Tehran's response will be harsher. This came in a joint press conference with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in the capital, Doha, on Wednesday, which he is visiting to participate in the Asian Cooperation Dialogue summit.

Regarding the situation in the region, Pezeshkian said, “We are absolutely against bloodshed. We have always said that we want peace. We do not want bloodshed in any country. But Israel is forcing us to do so.”

In response to the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran, Pezeshkian explained that “By assassinating our guest, Israel forced us to respond. It did so on the night I took the presidential oath. No country or party can accept this. No country can develop or prosper in the shadow of war.”

Regarding the possibility of Israel responding to the Iranian attack, Pezeshkian stressed that “if Israel responds, our response will be harsher.”

“In response to Israel’s assassination of Ismail Haniyeh and Hassan Nasrallah and its massacres in Gaza and Lebanon,” Iran launched dozens of missiles at Israel on Tuesday (180 according to Tel Aviv’s estimate), causing human casualties, material damage, and the closure of airspace, while millions of Israelis rushed to shelters.

Israel assassinated Nasrallah and others in an airstrike on the southern suburbs of Beirut on September 27, while Haniyeh was assassinated in a bombing of his residence during a visit to Tehran at the end of July, and Iran accused Tel Aviv of assassinating him.

Iranian Chief of Staff General Mohammad Bagheri revealed that the strike targeted three main air bases and a Mossad headquarters.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + Agencies