Israel is reportedly on high alert due to growing concerns over an imminent Iranian attack. The country’s Army Radio has stated that Israel is “counting the minutes until an Iranian attack,” following recent threats of retaliation from Tehran for last Wednesday’s assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was visiting Iran to attend the inauguration ceremony of Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian. Despite American attempts to dissuade Iran from launching a large-scale attack, these efforts appear to have been unsuccessful thus far.
The assassination of Haniyeh has dealt a significant blow to Iran’s reputation, as it exposed the country’s vulnerability to attacks despite its use of terror proxies abroad to target Israel and other adversaries. Furthermore, Iran is eager to redeem itself following a failed attack in April when around 300 projectiles were fired at Israel, with most being intercepted by various regional allies, including Jordan and the United States.
In the face of these mounting tensions, daily life in Israel has continued as usual, with residents going about their regular activities while remaining vigilant for potential attacks by Hezbollah or air raid sirens in major cities. The mood was somewhat lightened by Israel’s Olympic successes over the weekend, particularly Tom Reuveny’s gold medal win in windsurfing.
Nevertheless, the focus remains on news of Iran’s potential attack and how it may unfold. In previous instances when Israel faced similar threats—such as during the run-up to the Six-Day War in 1967, when Arab leaders made their genocidal intentions clear—Israel has typically opted for preemptive strikes rather than waiting to be attacked first. However, it has been reported that the Biden administration will not provide support if Israel decides to take a proactive stance. Consequently, unless Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has any surprises planned, Israel must prepare itself for potential attack.
Monday marks the beginning of the month of Av and the commencement of a nine-day period of mourning in the Jewish calendar, culminating next Tuesday on the Ninth of Av—a day that commemorates various tragedies in Jewish history. This is an especially inauspicious time for Israel; however, Israeli leaders have expressed resolve to defend their nation against any potential aggression. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated, “Whoever seeks to harm us will pay a very heavy price.