Report Outlines Scenario of Israeli Attack, Iranian Retaliation

As U.S. officials and military analysts express fear that Israel will launch an attack against Iran’s nuclear facilities, an NBC report outlines the possible scenario of that and potential retaliatory strikes from the Islamic republic.

Experts believe that an Israeli attack would take the form of a multifaceted assault involving missiles, warplanes, drones, and special operations forces, according to the NBC report.

In turn, Iran could be expected to retaliate with its Shahab 3 missiles, targeting major Israeli cities, NBC reports.

"I think that it would strike Iran as a reasonable response, an eye for an eye," said Christopher Ferrero, a diplomacy professor at Seton Hall University in New Jersey and an expert on Middle East missile forces.

Israel probably would target four key Iranian installations with airstrikes and missiles to increase the chances of not only breaking through fortifications surrounding the sites but also overwhelming Iranian air defenses.

"Two words: Jericho missiles," a former White House and Pentagon official told NBC. "They are conventionally armed, have a very small CEP [circular error of probability, meaning they are highly accurate] and can be used in conjunction with a strike fighter operation."