US says Iran readying ballistic missile attack on Israel

The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel imminently, news outlets Reuters and Axios reported on Tuesday citing a White House official.

The US is supporting Israel's preparations to defend against this attack, Reuters cited the official as saying.

A direct Iranian military attack against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran, the official added.

US Central Command, the military grouping responsible for the Middle East, announced that three more aircraft squadrons including F-15, F-16, and A-10 war planes were arriving in the region and that one has already arrived.

Oil prices jumped around $4 dollars from session lows to top $70 a barrel following the reports, in a sign of trepidation about the key oil transit way through the Strait of Hormuz straddling Iran.

Israel launched what it called a limited ground incursion into Lebanon on Monday which it said aims to dislodge Hezbollah from border villages firing rockets at Northern Israeli communities.

Israel has for two weeks been landing increasingly devastating blows against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, killing its leader Hassan Nasrallah in aerial bombardment on Beirut on Friday.

The attacks have killed up to a 1,000 people including many civilians but also much of Hezbollah's senior leadership and rank and file fighters.

Iran in April launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel in its first direct attack on Israeli territory in retaliation for an Israeli air strike on an Iranian diplomatic compound in Damascus.

The United States, Western and Arab powers helped Israel fend off that attack.

Iran and its armed allies throughout the region have been confronting Israel since Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7.