US warns of imminent Iranian attack on Israel within hours - CBS News

The officials said it would be difficult for the Israelis to defend against an attack of this magnitude, and while they acknowledge the possibility that the Iranians may resort to a smaller-scale attack to avoid a dramatic escalation, retaliation is imminent.

Tehran has not publicly indicated how and when it will strike back, but if it decides to carry out a direct attack on Israel, it could lead to a much wider conflict in the region, compared to Tel Aviv’s ongoing war against Hamas.

The attack on the Iranian consulate in Syria, which killed a Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and six other military officers, marked a further escalation in the violence across the region after the start of the Gaza war last October

Previously, Tehran was trying to avoid any direct involvement in the conflict, while backing groups which waged attacks on Israel from Iraq, Yemen, and Lebanon.

On Oct. 7, Hamas launched a massive rocket barrage at Israel from the Gaza Strip, firing approximately 5,000 rockets. Additionally, hundreds of armed Hamas militants breached the southern border of Israel, in an officially announced new large-scale operation against the country. In response, the Israel Defense Forces initiated Operation Iron Swords, intensifying strikes on the Gaza Strip.