US media outlet reports: Will Iran attack Israel on Monday?

Tensions in the region have escalated following the killing of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in an Israeli strike in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on July 31.

The US-based news site Axios reported that Iran could attack Israel on Monday.

The report stated that 3 US officials and 1 Israeli official "expect Iran to attack Israel as early as Monday" expressed.

CENTCOM COMMANDER ARRIVES IN THE REGION

Meanwhile, the report noted that US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael Erik Kurilla arrived in the region to discuss a potential Iranian attack following the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh.

It was stated that CENTCOM Commander Kurilla arrived in the region last night to address a possible retaliatory attack by Iran against Israel following the assassinations of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas Political Bureau Chief Haniyeh.

The report noted that Kurilla's Middle East trip had been planned in advance, but that he intends to use the meetings during his visit to the region to mobilize the international and regional coalition that played an active role against Iran's retaliatory attacks on Israel on April 13.

Kurilla is expected to visit several Gulf countries, Jordan, and Israel.

IRAN: WE WILL DEFINITELY RESPOND

Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri told Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar during their meeting that Israel had crossed a "major red line" against Iran by targeting Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, and that his country would "definitely respond" to Tel Aviv.

According to a written statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Acting Foreign Minister Bagheri spoke by phone with Pakistani Foreign Minister Dar regarding the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Haniyeh in Tehran.

Pointing out that Haniyeh was in Tehran as a guest of Iran, Bagheri stated that the scope of Israel's attacks has expanded to include Yemen, Lebanon, and Tehran.

Stating that Israel crossed Iran's "major red line" by targeting Haniyeh in Tehran, Bagheri said this action would have two consequences.

He noted that one of these would be "Iran's definitive response to this crime," and the other would be "Israel's increased actions to destabilize regional security and stability through its evil acts, against which Islamic countries must not remain silent."

ISRAEL PREPARES FOR ATTACK SCENARIO

It has been reported that Israel is preparing for a joint attack scenario involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iran, and its proxies, and is evaluating all options—including a preemptive strike by Tel Aviv—to prevent retaliation that is assessed to be "more comprehensive and lethal" during intense diplomatic traffic with the US.

According to the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, Israel's security and political establishment has entered a period of intense consultation following the death of Hezbollah's number two, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli airstrike, and the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, for which Tel Aviv is held responsible.

At the conclusion of these meetings, it was stated that a combined or separate attack from Hezbollah, Iran, and its proxies is "inevitable," while the timing and especially the "scope" of the incoming response remain uncertain.

While intense discussions continue regarding how Tel Aviv will respond to this attack, it was reported that the option of Israel acting first with a "preemptive strike" is also on the table.

It was noted that ministries in Israel have been asked to "be prepared for all scenarios that could evolve into a war on 5 fronts where thousands of points across their territory could be hit," and that satellite phones have been distributed not only to ministers but also to the heads of critical state institutions to ensure communication in the event of a collapse of the telecommunications network.

Israeli security officials assessed that Hezbollah is preparing for a major attack against Israel that "will not be limited to military targets," but that the Iranians are calculating the scale and nature of their moves after the US shared that it would play a role in Israel's defense.

It was stated that the diplomatic traffic between the US and Israel has increased to neutralize the attack expected from Iran and Hezbollah, that the US has moved an aircraft carrier to the region, and that it will attempt to act in coordination with allied countries in the region, similar to the response to the attack launched from Iran against Israel on April 13.

The scenario being worked on is structured such that "this time the attack will be broader, more intense, and more lethal."