The Lebanese movement is moving faster than Iran in its preparations and is planning to strike Israel in the coming days, the broadcaster reported on Wednesday.
Several officials told the broadcaster that Iran is apparently still mulling over its plans for a response to Israel. A US military official believes Iran has made some preparations, but not all of what the US expected to see before a possible major attack on Israel, the report added.
How could Israel react?
Israel has told the United States that Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah will pay a disproportionate price if it harms Israeli civilians as part of its retaliation for the assassination of its top commander Fuad Shukr, the Axios news portal reported on Thursday, citing two Israeli officials.
Israel has recently warned the US that it was concerned that Hezbollah could strike populated areas if it attempted to attack military bases in central Israel. In particular, Israeli officials pointed to inaccurate missile attacks by the movement.
"In the internal discussions with the U.S., Israel stressed that the cost of another Hezbollah mishap would be heavy and that Hezbollah would pay a disproportionate price if it harmed civilians as part of its retaliation," an Israeli official was quoted by the news portal as saying.
Israel carried out the assassination of Hezbollah's top military commander, Fuad Shukr, in Beirut last week. As far as the killing of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31 is concerned, Israel has not claimed responsibility for it, although the Hamas movement, as well as Iran, blamed Haniyeh's death on Israel.
Iran and Hezbollah are expected to launch retaliatory attacks on Israel. NBC News reported, citing an unnamed Israeli official, that the Jewish state was preparing for a potential prolonged attack by both Hamas and Hezbollah, keen to avenge the deaths of their leaders.