President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris received a briefing from their national security team on Monday, indicating that the timing and specifics of potential attacks by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel remain unclear, according to U.S. officials.
The briefing, held in the White House Situation Room, provided a more nuanced assessment than earlier reports suggesting an imminent attack within 24-48 hours.
Officials told the President and Vice President that U.S. intelligence expects a scenario involving two waves of attacks -- one from Hezbollah and another from Iran and its proxies. However, the sequence and nature of these potential strikes remain uncertain.
The meeting also addressed a recent rocket attack on Al Asad Airbase in Iraq, which seriously injured several U.S. soldiers. The Pentagon anticipates more attacks by pro-Iranian militias against U.S. forces in the region in the coming days, as regional tensions escalate.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the situation continue. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has engaged with Qatar's Prime Minister and stressed that a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal remains a top priority for the Biden administration. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that the U.S. has conveyed to Iran its commitment to defend Israel if attacked.
In a surprising development, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó reportedly informed Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz that Iran had notified Hungary of its intent to attack Israel in response to the recent assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.
As tensions mount, President Biden has directed his team to work closely with Israel on coordinating defense efforts. The commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Michael Kurilla, visited Israel yesterday (Monday) for high-level meetings with Israeli defense officials to discuss joint preparations and expand international coalition efforts against aggressive actions by Iran and its proxies.
The situation remains fluid, with all eyes on the Middle East as the international community braces for potential escalation in the coming days.
* Axios contributed to this report.
