Iran preparing major retaliatory strike from Iraq within days, Israeli intel suggests

 Israeli intelligence suggests Iran is preparing to attack Israel from Iraqi territory in the coming days, possibly before the U.S. presidential election, two Israeli

Why it matters: Israel and Iran have been engaged in an escalating tit-for-tat for weeks. Carrying the attack out through pro-Iranian militias in Iraq and not directly from Iranian territory could be an attempt by Iran to avoid another Israeli attack against strategic targets in Iran.

Driving the news: The sources said Israeli intelligence suggests the attack is expected to be carried out from Iraq using a large number of drones and ballistic missiles.

• Iran could quickly put its preparations into action if Tehran decides to strike soon, but the U.S. doesn't know if that decision has been made, a U.S. official told Axios.

What they're saying: Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami said on Thursday that Israel made a mistake when it attacked Iran last week and stressed that Iran's response will be "different from any scenario" Israel might expect.

• A high-ranking Iranian source told CNN that Iran is planning a "definitive and painful" response that will likely come before the election, the network reported Wednesday.
• Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, chief of staff to Iran's supreme leader, told TV network al-Mayadeen on Thursday Iranian retaliation was "certain." He said the Iranian response will be "strong" and will "make our enemy regret" its attack.

Flashback: Israel openly attacked Iran for the first time ever last week, targeting Iranian military infrastructure and air defense systems — though not nuclear sites or oil fields — in multiple waves of airstrikes.

• Iran claimed to have defeated that attack with only "limited damage," but vowed retaliation.
• Israel's attack came in response to Iran's 180-missile attack against Israel three weeks earlier, which Israel's air defenses mostly repelled.