Israel Braces as Gulf Tensions Spike; Netanyahu Holds Emergency Security Talks

Israel's defense establishment is ramping up preparations for the possibility the cease-fire collapses, amid the latest developments in the Gulf. Security officials clarified last night (Monday) that immediate readiness is in place to respond to any Iranian attack against Israel.

During the evening, senior political and defense officials held a series of small, high-level consultations. Ministers in the security cabinet were summoned to a meeting to be held on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held discussions throughout the day focused on developments around Iran and their implications.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian claimed his government was not informed in advance about yesterday's strikes and stressed they were carried out without his authorization: "The government did not know about the strikes... we did not approve them. This is a scandal."

In response, a senior official in the Revolutionary Guards sharply criticized his remarks and claimed that the president "still does not understand his role," clarifying that the country's main centers of power lie with the revolution and not the government.

A security official told the N12 website that "if until now the ball was in Trump's hands, now the ball has moved to the Iranians' court. If they decide to fight over the Strait of Hormuz - the meaning is a return to fighting."

Since the beginning of the week, there has been unusual movement of American aerial refueling planes in Israel's skies. The aircraft, departing from the U.S. base at Ben-Gurion Airport, are making their way toward the Persian Gulf, where they are operating alongside fighter jets and preparing for the possibility of an immediate renewal of the campaign.

An Israeli official told Kan News: "We are monitoring what is happening and waiting to see whether the Iranians have decided to escalate—and thus play into the hands of the U.S. and give everyone an excuse to return to fighting."

Amid renewed strikes in the Gulf, Israel is holding ongoing situational assessments and is also preparing for the possibility of damage to additional American aircraft that have arrived in the area, including refueling planes. Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. are tightening their cooperation, including through a series of discussions held in recent days, in preparation for a scenario of broad escalation.