Three informed Israeli sources told Agence France-Presse that Israel has raised its readiness to the maximum level in anticipation of any possible U.S. intervention in Iranian affairs. Another source confirmed this to Reuters, noting that Israel is on high alert for the same reason.
Reuters reported that these sources, who participated in Israeli security consultations earlier this week, did not specify what raising the alert level means in practice.
In a related context, a well-informed Israeli source revealed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran during a phone call yesterday. A U.S. official confirmed the call between Rubio and Netanyahu, without disclosing the details of the topics discussed.
This comes amid repeated threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to launch military action against Iran, against the backdrop of events unfolding in the country for days. His latest statement was last Saturday, when he announced that the United States is “ready to help.”
Earlier today, The New York Times quoted officials as saying that the U.S. President has been briefed on the options available for an attack on Iran and is seriously considering approving strikes.
On the other hand, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that U.S. bases in the region and the “occupied territories” will be legitimate targets for Iranian forces if his country is subjected to any aggression. During a parliamentary session devoted to discussing the latest developments, Ghalibaf affirmed that “the enemy exploited the demands of the Iranian people and is now waging a Daesh-like terrorist war from within because of its defeat in the recent military aggression.”
Since the beginning of this year, Iran has witnessed protests and riots in various provinces, resulting in the death of a number of police and “Basij” personnel and widespread destruction of public and private property. This coincided with clashes with separatist movements in the west of the country, which in turn led to the death of members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The Iranian authorities continue to pursue those involved, and reveal links connecting them to parties it describes as terrorist or separatist groups serving the interests of Mossad and the United States.
