The U.S. believes that Iran is planning to attack Israel by launching a ballistic missile, a senior White House official claimed Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Any attack could significantly escalate tensions in a region already on the verge of an all-out war, with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently ordering a limited ground invasion of southern Lebanon after earlier rejecting U.S. calls for a ceasefire. Iran has vowed retaliation for last week's assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

“The United States has indications that Iran is preparing to imminently launch a ballistic missile attack against Israel. We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this attack. A direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,” a senior official said in a statement, CNN reported.

In April, Iran launched a wave of drones and missiles toward Israel in a telegraphed response to the assassination of Iranian military officials in Syria. Because the U.S. and Israel had forewarning, the attack resulted in little damage and no loss of life.

The U.S. has said it will again assist Israel in intercepting anything Iran sends its way. Israeli officials, for their part, are projecting calm

“As of this moment, Israel does not perceive [an] imminent threat from Iran,” Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Daniel Hagari said, CNN reported. Hagari added that Israeli planes are “scanning the sky” for any threat.

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