The Hebrew newspaper Maariv reports that Israel is closely monitoring the rapid developments in the Gulf following the military escalation between the United States and Iran, alongside U.S. President Donald Trump's increasingly stern rhetoric towards Tehran. This has led to a heightened state of alert in Tel Aviv.
According to the newspaper, an Israeli military source stated that the Israeli army is prepared for any developments concerning Iran, asserting that the levels of alertness and readiness have not changed from recent days. The forces are prepared to carry out offensive or defensive missions if ordered.
The report suggests that Israel is not surprised by the current developments. Security institution estimates indicate that Iran will be unable to meet U.S. demands, which may push the situation towards further escalation.
Maariv explains that the escalation unfolds amidst Israeli assessments that President Trump has limited time to take military action against Iran before the U.S. midterm election campaigns begin in November.
Recent hours have witnessed an exchange of strikes between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. Central Command announced strikes against targets inside Iran in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran claimed to have targeted dozens of U.S. targets in Gulf nations and downed a U.S. drone.
Following these events, Trump intensified his rhetoric against Tehran, declaring that the memorandum of understanding with Iran is "ended" and that negotiations are "a waste of time." In response, Tehran has affirmed that it will retaliate against any aggression targeting its land or interests.