Iranian attack on Israel expected as US CENTCOM chief visits Middle East

The commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) arrived in the Middle East on Saturday, according to the US news agency Axios.

Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla’s visit coincides with U.S. and Israeli preparations for possible Iranian retaliation following the recent killings of senior Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, two U.S. officials cited by Axios said.

Axios reported that Iran could attack Israel on Monday, which is a very close deadline.

This development comes after threats of retaliation by the Iranian and Lebanese leaders of Hezbollah.

The trip, reportedly planned before the latest tensions, is aimed at bolstering the international and regional coalition that previously protected Israel from an April 13 Iranian attack.

Kurilla is due to visit several Gulf countries, Israel and Jordan, with the US hoping for a major contribution similar to the one in the April incident.

According to the report, US and Israeli officials are expecting a possible Iranian attack on Israel on Monday.

Pentagon reaction

The US is increasing its military presence in the Middle East in anticipation of a possible Iranian attack on Israel. The Pentagon announced Friday that additional warships and fighter jets are being deployed to the region to bolster defenses and ensure readiness.

The White House announced Friday that it is ready to deploy additional resources to protect itself and its allies if needed.

As of 09:30 GMT, neither the US Department of Defense nor CENTCOM have issued official statements regarding the Axios claim.

Biden and Netanyahu

President Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone Thursday as the Biden administration aims to prevent recent Israeli killings in Beirut and Tehran from escalating into a regional conflict.

The Biden administration believes Iran will retaliate within days for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran earlier this week and is preparing to counter the expected attack, three U.S. officials told Axios.

Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran’s capital Tehran on Wednesday, with Hamas and Iran accusing Israel of being behind the killing, which came shortly after Hezbollah’s top military commander was targeted Fouad Soukr in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.