US officials say Iran 'preparing rocket launchers' for Israel attack over Haniyeh assassination

Iran is reportedly moving missile launchers and conducting military drills in possible preparation for retaliatory strikes on Israel following the assassination of Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh, US officials have said.

A US official told Reuters that the timing and "specifics of such an attack" remain unclear, adding that it has not stopped Israel from preparing and the US from aiding in its efforts.

Biden's government was working with Israel to thwart a possible attack from Iran as it did in April after Iran launched unprecedented strikes on Israel after Israel's strike on Iran's embassy in Syria.

The chief of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has landed in Israel in preparation for a retaliatory attack and held a meeting with the chief of the Israeli army to "coordinate" defence.

Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv would consider launching a pre-emptive strike on Iran if its intelligence found "airtight evidence" that Tehran was preparing an attack.

Iran and Hamas have vowed to retaliate following the assassination, with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowing to avenge Haniyeh's killing, saying Israel would receive "a severe punishment at the appropriate time, place and manner".

The IRGC also said that the assassination was "supported by the criminal government" of the United States. Washington asserted that the US was not aware nor involved in the killing.

Haniyeh was reportedly killed by a "short-range projectile" launched from outside of his accommodation in Tehran, where he was attending the inauguration of Iran's newly elected Prime Minister Masoud Pezeshkian.

The attack came just hours after Israel said it carried out a "targeted strike" in Beirut killing Hezbollah senior figure Fuad Shukr in the Lebanese capital's southern suburb.

The US was reportedly concerned an attack from Iran might be accompanied by strikes from the Lebanese movement Hezbollah and Iran's other proxies in the region.

Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are working "around the clock" to ease tensions in the Middle East, engaging in diplomacy to try to ease tensions between Iran and Israel.

"All parties must refrain from escalation," Blinken said during a signing ceremony with his Australian counterpart in Washington.

"All parties must take steps to ease tensions. Escalation is not in anyone's interest. It will only lead to more conflict, more violence, more insecurity."

What next after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh?