Israel’s officials are contemplating the possibility of initiating a preemptive attack on Iran if there is a threat of an imminent strike from Tehran.
Israel’s officials are contemplating the possibility of initiating a preemptive attack on Iran if there is a threat of an imminent strike from Tehran, as reported by the Times of Israel on Monday.
“Israel would consider launching a preemptive strike to deter Iran if it uncovered airtight evidence that Tehran was preparing to mount an attack,” the Israeli newspaper stated.
According to Times of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered Israel’s top security officials for a meeting on Sunday night. The attendees included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Mossad Director David Barnea, and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar.
The meeting was reportedly called in light of potential attacks on Israel by Iran and Hezbollah, as preparations were being made for such scenarios. Axios, a US-based news website, had earlier reported, based on unnamed sources, that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had warned foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) about the possibility of Iran and Hezbollah launching an offensive against Israel within the next 24 hours.
“Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah have vowed to respond to the assassinations by Israel of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran,” Axios reported citing its sources that “Blinken stressed that the United States believes Iran and Hezbollah will both retaliate.”
“Blinken said the US doesn’t know the exact timing of the attacks but stressed it could start as early as the next 24-48 hours – meaning as early as Monday,” according to the website.