White House says Iranian reprisal for Haniyeh's killing may happen this week

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US has determined that Iran and its regional proxies may attack Israel as soon as this week, the White House said Monday following the assassination of the political leader of Hamas in Tehran last month.

Speculation has repeatedly mounted that Iran's reprisal could happen soon, and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the US shares "the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here, could be this week."

He maintained, however, that "it is difficult to ascertain at this particular time" what the reprisal could include, but said it may include "a significant set of attacks."

"The President is confident that we have the capability available to us to help defend Israel should it come to that. Nobody wants to see it come to that, which is why we continue to have these diplomatic conversations in earnest over the last few days to see what can be done to de-escalate this situation," added Kirby.

Kirby was referring to US President Joe Biden, who spoke by phone Monday morning with the leaders of the UK, France, Germany and Italy about the situation in the Middle East.

"That call took place mid-morning largely to discuss tensions in the Middle East, largely for all the leaders to repeat what they have said before in terms of reaffirming Israel's defense, and the need to get a cease-fire in place, to get the hostages home, and to send a strong message that that we don't want to see any rise in violence, any attacks by Iran or its proxies, and to make that clear," Kirby said.

The Pentagon said Sunday that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the deployment of a guided missile submarine to the Middle East, and accelerated the arrival of an aircraft carrier strike group to the region.

Hamas and Iran have accused Israel of carrying out Haniyeh’s assassination on Iranian soil. Tel Aviv has not confirmed, nor denied responsibility.

Lebanese Hezbollah is also expected to retaliate after Israel assassinated senior commander Fuad Shukr in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on July 30.

Shukr was killed one day before Haniyeh, setting the region on edge for a potentially wider war amid Israel's ongoing assault on the besieged Gaza Strip. Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed during the 10-month war. Less than 1,200 people were killed in the cross-border attack led by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023.