Israel on High Alert Over Potential US Action in Iran
Isaac BennettIsrael is on high alert, monitoring potential U.S. intervention in Iran amid escalating protests and Trump's threats.
Israel has reportedly entered a state of high alert over the possibility of United States intervention in Iran, where the government is facing the most significant anti-government protests in years. According to three sources with knowledge of Israeli security consultations, the country is closely monitoring the situation.
The heightened alert follows several days of statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to intervene and warned Iranian authorities against using force on demonstrators. On Saturday, Trump declared that the U.S. stands "ready to help."
The sources, who participated in security meetings over the weekend, did not provide specific details on what Israel's high-alert status involves operationally. The two nations previously engaged in a 12-day war in June, which saw the U.S. join Israel in launching airstrikes.
High-Level Diplomatic Discussions
The prospect of American action was a key topic in a phone call on Saturday between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. An Israeli source present for the conversation confirmed that the two leaders discussed potential U.S. intervention in Iran.
While a U.S. official acknowledged that the call took place, they did not comment on the specific subjects discussed.
Israel's Cautious Stance
Despite the escalating situation, Israel has not indicated any intention of intervening directly in Iran. Tensions between the two rivals remain high, largely due to Israeli concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and ballistic missile development.
In a Friday interview with the Economist, Netanyahu stated that an attack on Israel would lead to "horrible consequences" for Iran. Addressing the ongoing protests, he adopted a more cautious tone, remarking, "Everything else, I think we should see what is happening inside Iran."
