Iran Plots Revenge, U.S. Says
WASHINGTON—The U.S. has intercepted an order from Iran to militants in Iraq to attack the U.S. Embassy and other American interests in Baghdad in the event of a strike on Syria, officials said, amid an expanding array of reprisal threats across the region.
Military officials have been trying to predict the range of possible responses from Syria, Iran and their allies. U.S. officials said they are on alert for Iran's fleet of small, fast boats in the Persian Gulf, where American warships are positioned. U.S. officials also fear Hezbollah could attack the U.S. Embassy in Beirut...........
The Iranian message, intercepted in recent days, came from Qasem Soleimani, the head of Revolutionary Guards' Qods Force, and went to Iranian-supported Shiite militia groups in Iraq, according to U.S. officials. In it, Mr. Soleimani said Shiite groups must be prepared to respond with force after a U.S. strike on Syria.
Iranian officials on Friday denied their government was plotting attacks in Iraq against the U.S. Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for Iran's United Nations mission, said the allegation was baseless and meant to "provoke the Congress" into authorizing a strike on Syria. "We should remember that relying on U.S. intelligence reports from anonymous officials will repeat the tragedy of Iraq," he said.............
Some officials believe a direct response from the Syrian or Iranian governments is less likely than reprisals from allied militant groups, such as Hezbollah. Hezbollah, whose members have been fighting alongside government forces against the Syrian rebellion, could be used to launch rocket attacks against U.S. military assets or American allies, including Israel.
When the U.S. went to war with Iraq in 1991, Saddam Hussein fired rockets at Israel. Officials in Mr. Assad's government have threatened to strike Israel, as well as Syria's neighbors Jordan and Turkey if they aid the U.S.
For days, American officials have said they were particularly concerned about potential attacks on Turkey and Jordan. U.S. officials haven't reinforced defenses in those countries, but both already have Patriot batteries capable of shooting down incoming missiles or fighter planes. Jordanian officials have said they also fear they could be hit by rockets or that Syrian forces would force new waves of refugees across the shared border, overwhelming the kingdom.
Other U.S. allies also are worried about an increased threat of retaliation. French officials said they are concerned Hezbollah could target the hundreds of French troops taking part in a U.N.-backed peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon..............