Israel to launch attack on Iran ´very soon,´ state TV reports

Israeli Cabinet ministers have been informed that a planned counter-attack against Iran will take place "very soon," reported Xinhua, quoting Israel's state-owned Kan TV on Monday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in early October that his country would retaliate after Iran launched around 180 ballistic missiles toward Israel on Oct. 1, in response to the assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut. However, the timing of the Israeli attack remained unclear.

In a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, ministers were told the attack would be "very soon" and significant, according to the report.

The report came hours after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile defense system in Israel in addition to about 100 U.S. soldiers to operate it.

U.S. President Joe Biden had urged Israel to exercise restraint to avoid escalating a broader Middle East conflict, expressing concerns over strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and energy infrastructure.

Iran warned that it would retaliate against any Israeli missile attack.