Missiles have been launched from Iran toward Israel, triggering sirens across the country, according to a statement from the Israeli military.
Earlier on Tuesday, the White House issued a warning that Iran was preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, heightening concerns of a potential all-out war in the region.
In a statement released mid-morning, the White House said it had “indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel,” adding the United States was “actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack.”
“A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a senior White House official said in a statement.
Israel has assessed that the country is likely planning to target three Israeli air bases and an intelligence facility just north of Tel Aviv, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
The intelligence facility in Glilot was evacuated Tuesday afternoon, the source said, and the Israeli military has implemented contingency plans to protect personnel at the targeted bases.
The United States has warned Israel that the attack could occur within the next 12 hours, according to the source.
Shortly after this warning from the White House, an Israeli source informed CNN that intense diplomatic efforts are underway behind the scenes.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden convened a meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris and top national security officials to discuss Iran’s imminent plans for a significant ballistic missile strike against Israel, as confirmed by White House spokesperson Emilie Simons.
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Simons further stated that the meeting also reviewed the status of U.S. preparations to assist Israel in defending against the attack and ensuring the safety of U.S. personnel.
Amid a year of rising tensions between Israel and Iranian proxies — including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen — an attack on Israel could escalate the region toward full-scale conflict.
U.S. and Arab diplomats are already concerned about the aftermath of the expected Iranian strike, particularly regarding the scale of Israel’s response. A major concern is whether Israel might use this attack as a pretext to launch strikes inside the country.
“There is no place in Iran that the long arm of Israel cannot reach, and that’s true of the entire Middle East,” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said during his speech at the United Nations last week.
The United States is fully committed to assisting Israel in intercepting any threats from Iran, much like it did in April when Iran launched a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel. Most of those attacks were successfully intercepted, according to a US official.
The US expects that any new attack from their country on Israel would likely be on the same scale as the April assault, a US official told CNN.
Early Tuesday morning ET (midday in Israel), the US warned Israel that Iran was preparing to launch an attack, according to a source familiar with the situation.
This warning came hours before the White House publicly disclosed its intelligence indicating Iran’s intentions.
The official noted that is their positioned to strike quickly.
After the April missile and drone attack on Israel, many of their military assets remained in place, signaling their readiness for another offensive.
Tensions between Israel and Iran have escalated sharply in recent weeks, with Israel intensifying its operations against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militant group.
On Monday, Israel launched a ground operation in southern Lebanon, further raising the stakes.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Israelis to “stand united” and strictly follow military orders as the threat of an Iranian attack looms larger.
“We are in the midst of a campaign against Iran’s axis of evil,” Netanyahu said, outlining his expectations for the Israeli public. “I ask two things of you: First, strictly adhere to the instructions of the frontline command—it saves lives. And second, remain united.”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s defense, emphasizing that the US is closely monitoring the situation.
Speaking alongside his Moroccan counterpart, Blinken stated, “We are tracking events in the Middle East very closely,” though he did not specifically mention Iran or the anticipated attack.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Israel issued a security alert on Tuesday, advising all US government personnel and their families to “shelter in place until further notice” due to the ongoing security situation.
The alert did not reference the specific threat from Iran but urged individuals to make their own security arrangements.
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