Israel on High Alert as U.S. Weighs Possible Iran Intervention

Israel has moved to a heightened state of alert in light of growing concern that the United States could intervene militarily in Iran as mass anti-government protests continue there, according to three Israeli sources familiar with the matter.

The move reflects growing concern in Israel that any American action could prompt an Iranian response against Israel, potentially widening the conflict. Israeli officials say they are closely tracking developments in both Washington and Iran as events inside Iran intensify.

In parallel, Iran’s leadership has issued explicit warnings toward Israel. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf told lawmakers this morning that if the United States were to launch a military strike on Iran, Israel and American military bases in the region would be considered “legitimate targets.”

On Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which the possibility of U.S. intervention in Iran was discussed, according to an Israeli source who was present for the conversation. A U.S. official confirmed the call took place but declined to comment on its contents. Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing a U.S. source, said the call was described as a routine check-in between the two allies.

Israeli officials say the country is on high alert following internal security consultations held over the weekend. The sources did not elaborate on what the elevated alert level means operationally, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding both U.S. intentions and Iran’s potential response.

Tensions are high following the recent conflict between Israel and Iran, in which the United States was involved. The two countries fought a 12-day war in June, with the United States joining Israel in airstrikes during the final days. Israeli officials say that experience has raised concerns that any new crisis could quickly escalate and pull Israel back into fighting.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran’s leadership against using force to suppress the protests and has threatened American intervention in recent days. On Saturday, Trump said the United States stands “ready to help,” adding to Israeli preparations that Washington’s rhetoric could translate into action.

Despite the heightened alert, Israel has not signaled a desire to intervene directly in Iran as unrest grips the country. In an interview published Friday by The Economist, Netanyahu used a cautious tone when asked about the situation, saying there would be severe consequences if Iran attacked Israel but adding: “Everything else, I think we should see what is happening inside Iran.”

Israeli officials say they are proceeding with caution, aware that Iran’s leadership may feel it is fighting for its survival. For now, Jerusalem continues to watch closely, preparing for rapid shifts while waiting to see whether U.S. threats remain rhetorical or turn into action.