 "Israel has picked targets for its retaliatory attack against Iran, say US officials: Report")
Israel has reportedly decided their targets in Iran as it prepares to retaliate against Tehran’s missile attack launched earlier this month.
US officials have told NBC that Israel has identified military and energy infrastructure in Iran that could fall prey to its retaliation. Although none of these sites are nuclear facilities, the officials say that Tel Aviv is yet to mark a date to launch a counterattack.
Iran has been on the edge since it launched a missile attack against Israel in response to the latter’s invasion of Lebanon and subsequent killings of Hezbollah leaders. The country’s attack, however, caused negligible damage to Israel.
While it is not when and how Israel will carry out the attacks, US officials believe that the Israeli military is prepared and will pick up arms against Iran “whenever the order is given”.
US officials emphasised that they do not indicate that a response is expected today, noting that Israel has not provided them with a detailed timeline. Additionally, it’s uncertain whether Israeli officials themselves have settled on a specific plan or timeframe.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden held a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu where they both agreed to stay in “close contact” as Israel mulls its response to Iran, with the US leader also urging the Israeli premier to “minimize” harm to civilians in Lebanon.
Biden and Netanyahu also discussed Israel’s offensive against Iranian ally Hezbollah in Lebanon, the White House said.
The US president “reaffirmed” Israel’s right to defend itself against Hezbollah rocket attacks “while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut.”
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