In an article in the US Naval Institute's monthly Proceedings, US Admiral James Winnefeld describes the possibility of a missile attack by Iran against Israel "by far the most likely employment of ballistic missiles in the world today", The Daily Ha'aretz reported.

"It demands our immediate attention in the event of a need for a US or NATO response," he wrote adding that the Islamic Republic could be provoked into action "by an isolated, and perhaps seemingly unimportant event."

Winnefeld is the commander of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and its missile boats have practiced intercepting Shahab-3 missiles from Iran aimed at Israel, the report said.

His commander and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, Admiral Michael Mullen, had earlier opposed an Israeli or US strike against Iran.

"Such a strike can destabilise the region and open a third front for the US armed forces while it is preoccupied in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The preferred way of resolving the issue lies in international diplomacy and not the use of military force," he had said.

During his visit to Israel earlier this week, Mullen had mentioned the presence of missile defence vessels in the Mediterranean and their role in intercepting Iranian missiles.

"Israel remains a vital and trusted military ally in the Middle East, which faces very real security threats and the tyranny of what I call close-quarters geography," Mullen said.