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Israel Prepares for Potential Iranian Attack on Government Targets

(Bloomberg) — Israel is bracing for a direct and unprecedented attack by Iran on government targets as soon as Saturday, according to people familiar with western intelligence assessments, a move that has the potential to trigger an all-out regional war.

An assault from Iranian soil has emerged as one of the main scenarios expected by the Jewish state and its allies, said the people, who asked not to be identified as they aren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. A bombardment with drones and precision missiles could come within the next 48 hours, they said.

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“I don’t want to get into secure information but my expectation is sooner rather than later,” President Joe Biden said Friday in response to a question about whether an Iranian strike was imminent. Asked what message he’d give to Iran, Biden responded, “Don’t.”

“We are devoted to the defense of Israel,” Biden said. “We will support Israel, we will defend help defend Israel and Iran will not succeed.”

Oil jumped to the highest level since October on the news, rallying as much as 2.6% to top $92 a barrel. Futures have surged 19% this year with the war adding risk premium to the market.

US Prepares Defenses and Diplomatic Efforts

The US is preparing defenses and moved additional military assets to the region, while intensifying diplomatic efforts to rein in hostilities, the people said. Among the US forces in the Middle East are two Navy destroyers that moved to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea last week, according to a Navy official who asked not to be identified discussing military movements. One is the USS Carney, which was recently in the Red Sea performing air defense against Houthi drones and anti-ship missiles.

US officials including Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk have been working to send messages to Iran, including through an established Swiss channel, one of the people said, while talking to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other governments.

The intelligence assessment is that the attack still hasn’t been approved by Tehran’s highest-ranking officials, according to the people. An Iranian missile and drone barrage would represent a retaliation for a deadly strike on its diplomatic compound in Syria last week, which the Islamic Republic blames on Israel.

Late Friday, Israel reported 40 rocket launches from Lebanese territory and said some were intercepted. Israeli forces also intercepted two of Hezbollah’s explosive drones earlier in the day.

One of the people said it’s possible that the increasingly inflammatory rhetoric between Israel, Iran, and the US could be grandstanding, but said the working assumption for Israel and allies is that an attack is imminent. Diplomatic back-channels are in overdrive, the people said.

Impending Iranian Attack

Any Iranian attack on Israel would likely be a combination of missiles and drones, based on current capabilities outlined in a new Defense Intelligence Agency Worldwide Threat assessment released late Thursday.

Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday the US and allies were expecting a major escalation of hostilities, with targeted attacks on Israeli government and military sites. The Jewish State hasn’t claimed or denied responsibility for the Damascus attack, in keeping with a decades-long policy of ambiguity on operations in Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere.

A direct Israel-Iran conflict would significantly ratchet up hostilities in the Middle East.

International Concerns and Efforts

The escalating hostilities have drawn direct intervention from senior diplomats. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron warned Iran Thursday that an attack would escalate and drag in a wider array of actors.

Western officials said intelligence showed Iran is preparing an attack on Israel any day after Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday celebrated on April 10, adding the next 48 hours were critical to see if the message to diffuse tensions had successfully reached Tehran.

–With assistance from Alberto Nardelli and Tony Capaccio.

(Updates with Biden saying attack could happen sooner rather than later.)

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