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Israel’s military has raised its alert level in recent days over the possibility of an escalation involving Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon, less than two weeks before the country’s Oct. 27 general election, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported.
There was no concrete intelligence indicating that Iran or Hezbollah intended to launch an attack on Israel, but the military was preparing for the possibility of escalation on multiple fronts.
The Israeli military is closely monitoring developments following missile and drone tests conducted by Iran since last week and has described the current period as “sensitive,” according to the report.
“We are working so that we are not caught by surprise,” an unnamed Israeli security official told KAN.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to convene the security Cabinet on Thursday evening with senior security officials to discuss developments.
A source familiar with the matter described the meeting as routine and said it had been planned in the context of current security tensions.
KAN reported that recent threatening statements by Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir could lead to miscalculations by the other side, contributing to the decision by Israeli security agencies to raise their alert level.
Zamir warned on Oct. 14 that the risk of escalation had increased.
“Given the growing warnings on all fronts and the sensitivity of the current period, the possibility of escalation has increased,” he said.
KAN reported on Oct. 10 that Israel was preparing for a scenario in which war with Iran could resume before the election, including the possibility that the Trump administration could give Israel approval for a unilateral attack.
An Israeli official, however, assessed that such a scenario was unlikely.
Separately, KAN cited a CNN report saying the U.S. military had prepared new plans to target Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear sites if President Donald Trump ordered combat operations to resume.
The plans reportedly include the possible use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as the “mother of all bombs,” or MOAB, the most powerful non-nuclear weapon in the U.S. arsenal.
Israeli media have reported in recent weeks that Washington and Tel Aviv have been considering the option of resuming attacks against Iran.
Reports have also raised the possibility that Netanyahu could launch military action against Iran, Lebanon or Gaza before the Oct. 27 election.
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Netanyahu.
No details were provided about the content of the conversation or the issues discussed.
It was not immediately clear whether the call was connected to Israel’s military preparations or the possibility of renewed tensions with Iran.
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