Washington: As Israel evaluates its response to a missile attack from Iran earlier this month, U.S. officials have warned that Israel’s potential retaliatory targets may include Tehran’s military and energy infrastructure. Though the exact timing remains uncertain, sources suggest the strike could coincide with the Yom Kippur holiday, raising regional tensions further.
U.S. and Israeli defense sources indicate that Israel is weighing its options, with a focus on crippling Iran’s military assets and energy facilities. The prospect of such a strike comes amid heightened conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, which flared up over a year ago and has sharply intensified in recent weeks.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recently expressed concerns to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over Israeli military actions near UN peacekeeping positions in Lebanon. According to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), five peacekeepers have been injured in separate incidents since last Thursday. These injuries occurred amid escalating hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.
Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, claimed on Sunday that it had engaged Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate Ramya, a village in southern Lebanon, intensifying the ongoing clashes.
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Gulf States Call on U.S. to Prevent Israeli Strikes on Iran’s Oil Infrastructure
A separate report from Reuters reveals that Gulf states have urged Washington to intervene and prevent Israel from targeting Iran’s oil infrastructure. These countries fear that any Israeli strike on Iran’s oil assets could trigger retaliatory attacks on their own oil facilities by Tehran’s proxies. Three Gulf sources expressed concerns over this potential escalation.
Iran has also issued warnings to Saudi Arabia, cautioning that it could not guarantee the protection of Saudi oil facilities if Israel proceeds with an attack. A senior Iranian official and a diplomat confirmed that this warning was relayed during discussions this week, signaling the growing risk of broader regional instability.
