The Israeli military declared a state of “peak readiness” on Monday, anticipating a possible retaliatory strike from Iran and its allied forces. Concurrently, the U.S. military was deploying a guided-missile submarine to the region as U.S. intelligence indicated that an attack on Israel was “increasingly likely” within the coming days.
At a press briefing, White House spokesperson John F. Kirby informed reporters that American intelligence aligned with Israeli assessments regarding the timing of the expected attack, which he suggested could occur as soon as this week.
In response to escalating tensions, President Biden held discussions with the leaders of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy to explore avenues for de-escalation and potential cease-fire arrangements between Israel and Hamas. Kirby noted that these leaders issued a joint statement advocating for a cease-fire agreement, while also calling on Iran to withdraw its threats of military action against Israel. This statement comes in light of Iran’s vow to retaliate following the assassination of prominent Hamas leader Ismael Haniyeh in Tehran, an act they attributed to Israel, which has not claimed responsibility for the attack.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reached out to Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, urging him to prevent military escalation, according to their officials. Kirby also mentioned that discussions regarding a cease-fire were anticipated to resume on Thursday, a date set by President Biden in coordination with leaders from Egypt and Qatar, who have been facilitating the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari addressed the public, reassuring them that military forces had intensified air patrols over Lebanon, home to the Hezbollah group, and were actively targeting threats in the area. He stated, “We are prepared at peak readiness in offense and defense, and we will act according to government directives.”
On the U.S. front, Pentagon spokesperson Gen. Patrick Ryder confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III had sent the guided-missile submarine Georgia to the Middle East and had already dispatched additional combat aircraft and missile-capable ships to the region. The Israeli military reported that Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi had conducted a situational assessment with intelligence leaders to ensure ongoing readiness and prepare for both offensive and defensive operations.