White House: Iran could launch significant attack on Israel this week

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

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

"We share the same concerns and expectations as our Israeli counterparts regarding the potential timing here. It could be this week," he added.

Kirby's comments came as the United States rushes an aircraft carrier strike group and a guided-missile submarine to the region in support of Israel.

Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate for the killings of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr last month.

Biden on Monday called the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom to discuss rising tensions, the White House added.

The call was "largely for all the leaders to reiterate what they've said before in terms of reaffirming Israel's defense" and to "send a strong message that we do not want to see any escalation of violence, any attacks by Iran or its proxies," AFP reported.

The leaders also called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, with talks scheduled for Thursday to stop the conflict that began when the Palestinian group attacked Israel on October 7.

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