U.S. sees missile strike on Israel by Iran or proxies as imminent

Iranians burn an Israeli flag in Tehran last week during a rally and a funeral for those who were killed in a suspected Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy complex in the Syrian capital Damascus. | WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY / VIA REUTERS

by GALIT ALTSTEIN, JENNIFER JACOBS AND DONATO PAOLO MANCINI
Apr 11, 2024

The U.S. and its allies believe major missile or drone strikes by Iran or its proxies against military and government targets in Israel are imminent, in what would mark a significant widening of the 6-month-old conflict, according to people familiar with the intelligence.

The potential assault, possibly using high-precision missiles, may happen in the coming days, the people said, requesting anonymity to discuss confidential matters. It is seen as more a matter of when, not if, one of the people said, based on assessments from U.S. and Israeli intelligence.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, spiked more than 1% to trade above $90 a barrel following the news. Oil is up 16% this year, buoyed by war risk premium since the conflict in the Middle East began.