Israel on High Alert; Reserves Mobilized Amid Regional Threats

By Yoni Weiss

The War Cabinet convened a virtual meeting late on Wednesday to address the escalating immediate security threats following the assassination of senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria, an operation attributed to Israel.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, recuperating at home from recent surgery, conducted consultations with security officials regarding the potential for imminent attacks against Israel or Israeli interests both domestically and abroad.

The IDF announced the mobilization of reserves to bolster aerial defenses, while Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stern warning to Hezbollah, cautioning that while a conflict would pose challenges for Israel, it would be catastrophic for the Iranian proxy and Lebanon alike.

Security forces expressed concerns over potential violence erupting on Friday, the final day of the Muslim month of Ramadan, amidst threats of retaliation from Iranian leaders, including President Ebrahim Raisi, following the killing of Quds force commander Mohammad Reza Zahedi and others in Damascus.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a post on social media in Hebrew, warned that the “Zionists” would regret their aggressive actions. Similar threats emerged from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al Houthi, who advocated for Jihad as the only means for Palestinians to attain their rights.

In Iraq, Shiite militias escalated their threats against Israel and U.S. forces in the region. The “Islamic Resistance in Iraq,” comprising pro-Iranian militias operating in Iraq and Syria, had launched attack drones targeting the southern city of Eilat, with one striking a military base on Monday.