General Michael Kurilla, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), arrived in Israel on Saturday (Aug 3) amid escalating threats of significant Iranian retaliation against Israel, following a series of targeted killings, according to an Axios report.

The report, citing two US officials, suggests that Kurilla’s visit aims to bring along Washington’s allies in West Asia to thwart any potential attack from Iran, similar to the one on Israel on April 13. But the expected retaliation is likely to be on a much larger scale.

The Biden administration is reportedly concerned about the difficulty in garnering support from West Asia’s capitals due to Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh’s killing.

The assassination is viewed in the broader scope of the internal conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Israeli and US officials have warned that an attack could occur as early as Monday (Aug 5).

Although Kurilla’s trip was planned before the assassinations of Hezbollah’s Fuad Shukr in Lebanon and Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, he is leveraging the visit to strengthen regional defences for Israel.

During his visit, Kurilla is also expected to travel to Jordan and several Gulf countries.

Following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iranian officials have vowed severe retaliation. Israel remains on high alert for a possible attack while the United States is deploying additional forces to the region.

Also watch | Haniyeh’s killing: Security breach in focus

Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps declared on Saturday (Aug 3) that their revenge would be “severe and at an appropriate time, place, and manner.”

Besides, the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations told CBS News in an interview on Friday (Aug 2) that Hezbollah intends to start targeting Israeli civilians deliberately, a tactic it claims to have refrained from until today. 

Also watch | US CENTCOM chief arrives in West Asia as Israel prepares for possible Iranian attack?

“Until now, Hezbollah and the [Zionist] regime have, in an unwritten understanding, practically adhered to certain limits in their military operations, meaning that confining their actions to border areas and shallow zones, targeting primarily military objectives,” a spokesperson from the delegation told CBS News.

“However, the regime’s attack on Dahieh in Beirut and the targeting of a residential building marked a deviation from these boundaries,” the spokesperson said. “We anticipate that, in its response, Hezbollah will choose both broader and deeper targets, and will not restrict itself solely to military targets and means.”

(With inputs from agencies)