As Israel braces itself for an attack by Iran, the US leads the effort to avert wider war in Middle East

There are warnings of an attack by Tehran, but in this highly volatile situation no country can afford for events to spiral out of control, writes Kim Sengupta

A satellite image shows the Iranian embassy and consulate in Damascus following a suspected Israeli strike earlier this month (Reuters)

With Iran and Israel trading threats and counter-threats during one of the most serious confrontations between the two adversaries, intensive diplomatic efforts are underway to avert a wider war in the Middle East.

There are reports that US intelligence officials have reiterated their warning that an imminent attack may take place in Israel in retaliation for the killing of a general and six other senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus.

According to various accounts, Iran may launch ballistic missiles in a simultaneous attack on a number of targets in Israel, including the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, the Dimona nuclear facility, and an airport in Haifa. However, there are also reports that Tehran has indicated to the US through back channels that while the deaths must be avenged, the response would be proportionate, take place at a time of its choosing, and not involve American or other Western targets.