Israeli media reported that there were concerns about Iranian retaliation and that Israel would strike targets inside Iran in retaliation.
Israeli state television KAN reported that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has begun consultations with senior security officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and War Cabinet member Benny Gantz, about a possible Iranian attack.
It was announced that the Israeli army has “tightened restrictions on the ban on travel abroad for conscripts and reservists”.
“The red line for Iran has been crossed”
Israeli military analyst Amos Harel, writing in Haaretz, reported that the War Cabinet and the Council of Ministers last week discussed possible attacks from Iran rather than Israeli prisoners in Gaza.
“The red line for Iran has been crossed and Iran will respond to Israel,” Harel predicted, recalling Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s threat of retaliation, “Apparently, measures have been taken for a military attack.”
Avichai Haim, a writer for the Israel-based “Walla” website, said, “Since the assassination of senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officials in Damascus, Israelis have been sleeping knowing that Iran’s response will come.”
Israeli Army Spokesman Daniel Hagari pointed out yesterday that Israel is in “the highest state of readiness” and said, “We are prepared in terms of attack and defense.”
“Iran has been financing, directing and arming proxy forces in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iraq and Yemen to attack Israel for years, especially during the war (after October 7),” Hagari said.
What happened?
On April 1, Israel launched an airstrike on Iran’s consulate building in the embassy compound in Damascus. In the attack, 7 members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, including 2 generals, were killed.
Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei stated that Israel’s attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus meant an attack on his country’s territory and said, “The evil regime has made a mistake, it must be punished and will be punished.”
US President Joe Biden has also pledged “unwavering” support for Tel Aviv in the face of Iranian threats to attack Israel.
France had called on French citizens to strictly avoid traveling to Iran, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories amid escalating tensions in the region.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said, “If Iran attacks us from its territory, we will respond, we will attack Iran.”
