Iran is preparing to 'imminently' launch a ballistic missile attack on Israel, a senior US administration official told MailOnline this afternoon, before warning the Islamic Republic that any such attack would invite 'severe consequences'. 

'We are actively supporting defensive preparations to defend Israel against this... a direct military attack from Iran against Israel will carry severe consequences for Iran,' the official warned.

IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari declared that Israeli officials had received the intelligence update from Washington but that no aerial threats from Iran had yet been detected.