Israel on High Alert as Iranian Retaliation Looms
The Israeli military said it was on high alert on Thursday in response to potential Iranian retaliatory actions after a series of international warnings to Tehran advising against any major assaults on Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are prepared for various security scenarios, with readiness spanning both defensive and offensive capabilities, as explained by IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.
The IDF’s preparations follow recent threats from Iran, which vowed retaliation after an airstrike on April 1 targeted the Iranian consulate in Damascus, killing several high-ranking officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Although Israel has not officially accepted responsibility for the strike, the incident has been widely attributed to them, increasing the likelihood of an Iranian response.
Iran has indicated through diplomatic channels that its response would aim to avoid a major escalation, using regional proxies rather than direct confrontation. Despite this, Israeli and US officials are preparing for what they believe could be imminent attacks either directly from Iran or through its regional allies.
General Michael Kurilla of the US Central Command arrived in Israel to discuss the security situation with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. Concurrently, the US has restricted personal travel for its employees in Israel to major cities due to the ongoing threats.
