The US has moved warships into position to protect not only Israel but its own forces in the Middle East amid growing concern that Iran might launch a direct attack on Israel, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The moves are part of an effort to avoid a wider conflict in the Middle East, six months since Israel launched its onslaught on Gaza, and followed a warning from a person familiar with the matter about the timing and location of the potential Iranian attack, the newspaper said.

However, quoting a person briefed by the Iranian leadership, the paper reported that Tehran had yet to make a final decision on an attack.