White House: Iran Could Make 'Significant' Attack on Israel this Week

US President Joe Biden walks from Marine One to the West Wing of the White House August 12, 2024 © Brendan Smialowski / AFP
US President Joe Biden walks from Marine One to the West Wing of the White House August 12, 2024 © Brendan Smialowski / AFP
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White House: Iran Could Make 'Significant' Attack on Israel this Week

US President Joe Biden walks from Marine One to the West Wing of the White House August 12, 2024 © Brendan Smialowski / AFP
US President Joe Biden walks from Marine One to the West Wing of the White House August 12, 2024 © Brendan Smialowski / AFP

Iran could launch a "significant" attack on Israel as soon as this week, the White House said Monday, as US President Joe Biden discussed the crisis with European leaders.

"We have to be prepared for what could be a significant set of attacks," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"We share the same concerns and expectations that our Israeli counterparts have with respect to potential timing here -- could be this week," added Kirby, AFP reported.

Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah group have vowed to avenge last month's killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.

Biden called the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Britain on Monday to discuss the growing tensions, the White House added.

The call was "largely for all the leaders to repeat what they have said before in terms of reaffirming Israel's defense" and to "send a strong message that we don't want to see any rise in violence, any attacks by Iran or its proxies."

The leaders also called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with difficult talks set for Thursday on halting the conflict that started when the Palestinian group attacked Israel on October 7.

The call came shortly after Biden returned to the Oval Office after a long weekend at his beach house in Delaware.



Iran Says it Has Sent Satellite Into Space

In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket. EPA
In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket. EPA
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Iran Says it Has Sent Satellite Into Space

In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket. EPA
In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket. EPA

Iran Saturday sent a research satellite into orbit with a rocket built by the Revolutionary Guard, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
The report said the Chamran-1 satellite has a weight of 60 kilograms and successfully reached in 550-kilometer orbit in space. It said testing space hardware and software is the main mission of the satellite.
IRNA said land stations received signals from the satellite, too.
It said the satellite-carrier rocket Qaem-100, using solid fuel, was designed and made by the Guard aerospace division. Iran says it has 13 more satellite launches in a row.
Though Iran has long planned to send satellites into orbit, this is the first launch under reformist President Masoud Pezezhkian after his hardline predecessor Ebrahim Raisi died in a May helicopter crash.
In January, Iran said it successfully launched three satellites into space with a rocket.