As U.S.-Iran Tensions Spike, Israel Says It Is "Ready for Combat"
With reports suggesting President Donald Trump is ordering an expansion of strikes inside Iran, Israel is closely watching developments. A security source confirmed: "The level of alert is high. We are prepared for both attack and defense." At this stage, it is important to note that there is no change in Home Front Command instructions.
Arming a fighter jet, archive (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)Israel is on heightened alert following statements by U.S. President Donald Trump earlier Wednesday in which he declared that, from his perspective, the ceasefire with Iran is no longer in effect and that he is weighing a powerful strike on Iranian territory. The IDF described its posture as "alert and prepared for both offensive and defensive action." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security consultation Wednesday evening with Defense Minister Israel Katz and senior security officials.
In the United States, it was reported that U.S. Central Command had ordered aerial refueling aircraft — which had previously departed the region for bases in Europe — to return to the Middle East, including to Israel, signaling a significant repositioning of American military assets.
Following the American strikes carried out overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday, and in the face of Iranian threats to retaliate against any further attack, the IDF raised its alert level. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir convened situational assessment discussions with senior IDF commanders, including the heads of Military Intelligence, the Air Force, and the Operations Directorate. An open and continuous line of communication is being maintained in parallel with senior officials at U.S. Central Command and the Pentagon.
Channel 14 News reported, citing an Israeli source, that any Iranian strike on Israeli territory would necessarily trigger a forceful Israeli response — and that unlike the previous round of escalation, in which Washington moved to restrain a broad Israeli counterattack, this time the United States is not expected to stand in Israel's way.
