Here’s What You Need To Know About Iran’s Impending Attack On Israel

Israel is currently bracing for revenge attacks from Iran and Hezbollah after the Jewish state carried out high-profile assassinations of terrorist leaders in Iran and Lebanon.

As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are planning to gather in the Situation Room, Israel reassures its citizens, and Iran ramps up its rhetoric, here’s what you need to know.

How We Got Here

Tensions began escalating when Hezbollah killed 12 Druze children on a soccer field in Israel with a missile last month.

In response, Israel last week assassinated top Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr, also known as Hajj Mohsin, who also played a central role in the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Marine Corps Barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 U.S. military personnel. The U.S. government had a  $5,000,000 reward for anyone who provided information on Shukr.

The next day, Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran, where he attended the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian. Iran denies a New York Times report claiming an explosive was planted in Haniyeh’s room two months in advance, and instead is adamant a “short-range projectile” was used. Israel did not take credit for the assassination of Haniyeh, though Israel does not always comment on targeted killings.

Revenge

Both Hezbollah and Iran have vowed to take revenge on Israel after the assassinations. Iran in particular takes issue with Haniyeh being killed on its territory.  

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, took to X after Haniyeh was killed, saying Israel will face a “severe punishment” and that it was Iran’s “duty to take revenge.” 

Following this bitter, tragic event which has taken place within the borders of the Islamic Republic, it is our duty to take revenge.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) July 31, 2024

Khamenei posted a video of him meeting with family members of Haniyeh, stating he led a funeral prayer over “martyr” Haniyeh’s body.

It is unclear if Iran and Hezbollah will attack independently or coordinate.

What’s Happened So Far

Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israel since the assassinations, part of the terror group’s near-constant attacks on border areas since Hamas’ Oct. 7 invasion of Israel. These attacks are not thought to be Hezbollah’s promised act of revenge, as they fit an ongoing pattern of trading fire.

Israel has taken steps to brace for the attack, introducing a new alert system to send geographically-targeted cell phone messages to citizens in case of emergency.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a situation assessment with the Israeli Air Force on Monday. There, he reportedly told commanders that “our enemies are carefully considering their every move” because of the IDF’s capabilities and that they will be “prepared for anything — including a swift transition to offense.”

Major General Ori Gordin, the commanding officer of Northern Command on Sunday, said that Israel’s “offensive plans are ready” and that all units are prepared “down to the last soldier.”

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that Israel is in a “multi-front war against Iran’s axis of evil” and that it is “prepared for every scenario — both offensively and defensively.”

Many airlines have canceled flights to Israel, and numerous countries, including the United States, are encouraging their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. The United States last week raised its travel advisory for Lebanon to “Level 4: Do Not Travel.”

Iran advised incoming aircraft to change their routes due to the dangers of flying to parts of its country in a Notice to Air Missions on Monday.

The United States ramped up its military presence in the region to keep its “ironclad commitment to the defense of Israel,” Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said on Friday.

According to Singh, an additional fighter jet squadron has been deployed, along with ballistic missile defense-capable cruisers and destroyers. Measures are also being taken to enhance readiness for deploying land-based ballistic missile defenses.

How Are Other Countries Responding

Biden on Monday had a call with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and will convene his national security team, including Harris, in the Situation Room in the afternoon. Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi made a rare trip to Iran Sunday amid concerns the nation will attempt to fire missiles at Israel through Jordan’s airspace.

In April, Saudi Arabia and Jordan are believed to have assisted in shooting down Iranian missiles that were fired in response to Israel’s killing of a top Iranian general. This time it is believed the nations may be less willing to support Israel, as the assassination is linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, rather than just Iran, with whom many neighboring Arab nations have tense relations.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly told his G7 counterparts that the impending attack could begin as early as Monday, Axios reported. Several countries, including the United States, France, Britain, Italy, and Egypt, have been working behind the scenes to minimize regional escalation, according to The Times of Israel.