Hezbollah appears to be on the verge of launching an attack on Israel independently of Iran’s actions, according to two sources familiar with the intelligence who spoke with CNN on Wednesday.
These sources indicate that Hezbollah is advancing its plans more rapidly than Iran and could potentially initiate a strike against Israel within the next few days.
Conversely, Iran seems to be deliberating its response strategy, as reported by several officials to CNN. A US military official mentioned that while Iran has started some preparations, they have not completed all the expected measures for a significant assault on Israel.
Given that Lebanon shares a border with Israel to the north, Hezbollah has the capability to act with minimal warning, which contrasts with Iran’s situation, according to the second source familiar with the intelligence.
Both Iran and Hezbollah have pledged retaliation for the deaths of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.
Israel has acknowledged responsibility for Shukr’s death but has not commented on Haniyeh’s death. Hamas and Iran, however, quickly attributed blame to Israel.
White House officials mentioned on Tuesday that there might be a reconsideration of Iran’s planned retaliation against Israel, as reported by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius.
Ignatius suggested that Iran might be “reconsidering a plan for major retaliation” in response to Haniyeh’s death, but officials highlighted that Hezbollah “is still a wild card.”
On the same day, CNN reported that the US is more apprehensive about potential Hezbollah retaliation for Shukr’s death compared to an Iranian response for Haniyeh’s death.
An American official and a Western intelligence source informed CNN that the US has observed Iranian preparations for an attack, expecting it to occur soon. The specifics of the attack and the extent of coordination between Iran and Hezbollah remain unclear.
{Matzav.com}