Israel believes Iran will launch direct attack in coming days — report

People walk past a poster of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) and slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's capital Tehran on August 10, 2024. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)
People walk past a poster of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (R) and slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran's capital Tehran on August 10, 2024. (ATTA KENARE / AFP)

Israel’s current assessment is that Iran will launch a direct attack on the country in response to the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in the coming days, two unnamed sources aware of the details tell the Walla news site.

The sources say that the Islamic Republic may launch its attack before ceasefire-hostage deal talks scheduled for Thursday.

The new intelligence assessment marks a departure from reports in recent days that Iran was rethinking its vowed harsh response to the assassination, which it blames on Israel, amid heavy international pressure.

The report says that the issue is divisive within Iran. President Masoud Pezeshkian wants to avoid a harsh response, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps wants to launch a larger attack than it did on April 13-14.

One of the sources says the situation is “still fluid” due to the disagreements.

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