Israel braces for potential Iranian attack as most troops leave Gaza

Analysis

Rina Bassist

Apr 8, 2024

Iranian attend the funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria, which Iran blamed on Israel, in Tehran on April 5, 2024. The Guards, including two generals, were killed in the air strike on April 1, which levelled the Iranian embassy's consular annex in Damascus. The funeral ceremony coincides with the annual Quds (Jerusalem) Day commemorations, when Iran and its allies stage marches in support of the Palestinians. (Photo by Hossein Beris / Middle East — Iranians attend the funeral procession for seven Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps members killed in a strike in Syria, in Tehran, on April 5, 2024. — (Hossein Beris/AFP via Getty Images)

Israel's military and political apparatuses remain convinced that Iran is planning a large attack to avenge the killing in Syria of its Quds Force commander for Lebanon and Syria, Mohammad Reza Zahedi, in what could push the region into an all-out war. Still, there's disagreement over how far the Islamic Republic might be willing to go.

Israel's defense minister, Yoav Gallant, said Sunday that Israel was ready to manage a possible attack from Tehran, stating that the military has “completed preparations for a response against any scenario that would develop against Iran.” Gallant made this remark following an assessment meeting with IDF Operations Directorate chief Oded Basiuk and Military Intelligence Directorate chief Aharon Haliva.

Earlier on Sunday, Iranian news agency ISNA quoted a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Yahya Rahim Safavi, as saying that "the embassies of the Zionist regime are no longer safe." It also published an infographic showcasing nine types of Iranian missiles allegedly capable of hitting Israel.

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