"This time it's different": Why so little is known about the coming Iranian attack

The planned Iranian retaliation against Israel will be kept a closely guarded secret, known only to a small number of commanders, until shortly before the strike is launched, a senior commander within a pro-Iran Iraqi militia told the BBC.

The source said that “This time a very small elite group of commanders are involved and will have knowledge of the plan for the response to Israel by Iran & Hezbollah and other parts of axis that will take part. Until very last moments only they would know the plan. Previously some more people were involved and there were some clue about the form of the attack. This time I can tell you it is different.”

Western sources believe a strike will come within the next 24 and 48 hours, but Israel has not revealed its own assessments, nor has it changed Rear Command's instructions for civilian defense.