Iran planning ballistic missile attack on Israel ‘imminently’ as US prepares to help shoot down

Iran is ready to “imminently”  fire ballistic missiles at Israel in response to the IDF’s ground incursion into Lebanon, a US official said Tuesday. 

After warning of a retaliatory attack on the Jewish state over its advancements against the Hezbollah terrorist group, Tehran is allegedly set to fire a direct attack against the Jewish state, a senior White House official told The Post. 

“We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack,” the official said. “A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran.”

The looming attack is expected to be carried out within hours, one official told Axios, with another warning that Tehran will use ballistic missiles capable of reaching Israel within 12 minutes. 

In April, Tehran fired more than 330 drones and missiles against Israel — nearly all of which were intercepted, with help from the US and Jordan.

Should Iran use ballistic missiles this time, it would give the US and its allies less time to intercept the attack, a US official told Axios. 

Ballistic missiles also fly higher and faster and are much harder to shoot down.

“The attack from Iran may be on a wide scale,” the IDF warned — and urged Israelis to follow directions on taking shelter.

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The US previously mobilized more troops in the area, as well as extending the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group, to help deflect any incoming attacks from Iran.

At least one additional aircraft squadron had already arrived in the region as of 10 a.m. Tuesday, with two others arriving later in the day, according to US Central Command. The planes include F-15E and F-16 fighter jets, which are capable of intercepting missiles, as well as A-10 attack aircraft.

Israel Defense Force spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said Israel is aware of the warning. He said there were no aerial threats fired from Iran as of Tuesday morning. 

Hagari said the IDF is ready to engage in defensive and offensive strategies in the face of such an attack, echoing America’s warning that there would be consequences. 

The IDF and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have urged the Jewish nation’s residents to follow the “Home Front Command,” a safety protocol calling on civilians to stay within 90 seconds of protective shelters in case of an attack. 

The directive was issued for all of central Israel and Jerusalem on Tuesday, and it will stay in effect until Oct. 5, according to the IDF. 

“What I ask of you is two things,” Netanyahu said in a statement to the public. “One, to strictly obey the directives of the Home Front Command. It saves lives.

“And second, to stand together,” he added. “We will stand firm together in the trying days ahead. Together we will stand, together we will fight, and together we will win.”

The US Embassy in Jerusalem urged all Americans in Israel to “shelter in place until further notice,” according to a security alert issued Tuesday.

The alert said the embassy may also “further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel,” including Jerusalem and the West Bank as events unfold.

“The US Embassy in Jerusalem reminds US citizens of the continued need for caution and increased personal security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and unmanned aircraft system UAS intrusions, often take place without warning,” the embassy said. 

“The security environment remains complex and can change quickly depending on the political situation and recent events.”

Nearly two dozen border communities in Lebanon were evacuated by Tuesday — before the IDF began its operations in Lebanon. 

While the terror group denied that Israeli troops have crossed the border, the IDF said it is active in the area while revealing it had already carried out raids in Lebanon going back nearly a year. 

Israel has backed up its claims with videos of such operations, but the IDF’s past and current missions in Lebanon have yet to be independently verified as people flee the conflict zone. 

Hagari said the operations are “localized ground raids” aimed at dismantling Hezbollah’s missile launching facilities and weapons cache, with the troops staying in southern Lebanon. 

“We’re not going to Beirut,” he said. “We’re only going to areas next to our border and will do what is necessary to dismantle and demolish Hezbollah infrastructure.”

The goal of the raids is to ensure Hezbollah no longer has the means to continue its daily missile strikes against northern Israel that has left tens of thousands displaced since Oct. 8. 

With Post wires