Israel Assesses Potential Attacks from Hezbollah and Iran as 'Still Imminent'

Israeli Channel 13 reported, citing its sources, that despite a meeting of senior officials from Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar in Doha to discuss a ceasefire in the Gaza war, Israel continues to assess that attacks from Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel are 'imminent.' At the same time, an Israeli army spokesperson announced that the military is in 'peak readiness' for 'both offense and defense.' In this context, Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, stated on Friday, August 26, during a meeting with his counterparts from Britain and France, who visited Jerusalem to prevent the escalation of the regional crisis, that 'if Iran attacks, we expect the formed coalition to join Israel, not only in defense but also in attacking significant targets in Iran.' According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Katz added that Israel 'will not be able to respond to any harm done to it without a severe retaliatory attack.' According to Channel 13, following another meeting of its security cabinet at the Ministry of Defense headquarters in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, August 25, Israel continues to assess that Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic have not forgotten their promised attack against Israel and that these attacks are 'imminent.' Previously, a White House official also mentioned on Thursday that the Islamic Republic has not abandoned its plans for 'revenge' against Ismail Haniyeh. Alon Ben-David, a military reporter for the channel, stated that Israel's assessment is that Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, will not wait for an attack from Iran on Israel and is 'determined' to carry out an attack on Israel. The report indicated that American officials have warned Hezbollah not to take any action that would jeopardize ongoing negotiations in Doha. On Friday, August 26, Hezbollah released a video showing members of the organization transferring missiles from underground tunnels. In the video, Hezbollah introduces its underground facilities as 'Imad 4,' resembling large underground missile shelters previously seen by senior military officials of the Islamic Republic. The tunnels shown in the video are of a depth and height that allow multiple trucks to pass through easily and continuously. The video also shows missile launch platforms emerging from the ground. The report from Channel 13 stated that the Israeli Air Force will remain on standby on Friday and Saturday (the weekend in Israel). Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesperson, said on Thursday at a press conference in Tel Aviv that the army is 'in peak readiness for both attack and defense.' He added, 'We are capable of action around the clock.' Meanwhile, Channel 12 reported on Thursday that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu has sent a message to the Islamic Republic through a third country this week, warning that any action from Tehran will face a 'severe and painful response' from Israel. According to the channel, which did not disclose its sources, this message indicates a threat that could break the strategic balance between rival countries in the Middle East. The report claims that Israel may have plans to inflict damage on Iran's economic infrastructure, similar to last month's operation against the port of Hodeidah in Yemen. The second day of ceasefire negotiations in Doha; the first day was 'constructive.' Israel's Kan channel interviewed pilots from the Israeli Air Force who participated in the operation against the port of Hodeidah last month. These attacks were in retaliation for a deadly drone attack by the Houthis on civilians in Tel Aviv. One of the pilots who bombed Hodeidah stated that the distance from Israel to Iran is shorter than the distance from Israel to Hodeidah, and for Israel, 'there is no point in the Middle East' that it cannot reach within 24 hours. This pilot added that he and other pilots are not afraid of potential future operations. John Kirby, spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House, also stated on Thursday, coinciding with the start of the ceasefire talks in Doha, that the assessment of the U.S. intelligence community supports that Iran still intends to attack Israel. Kirby expressed hope that Iran would refrain from carrying out this threat. President Joe Biden stated on Tuesday that he expects the reaching of a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war to deter Iran from attacking Israel. In this context, Flor Hassan-Nahoum, a diplomat from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, told Newsweek on Thursday that a broad confrontation between his country and Iran is 'inevitable' and that the U.S. President should take direct action against the Islamic Republic as soon as possible. This Israeli diplomat added that regional tensions are turning into a serious and 'inevitable' issue. Concerns about the Gaza war between the Israeli army and the extremist group Hamas escalating into a broader regional conflict increased after Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, emphasized the need for 'revenge' in his message regarding the death of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas's political bureau. The extremist group Hamas, recognized as terrorist by the U.S. and the European Union, is one of the armed groups supported by Tehran. Ismail Haniyeh was killed on August 1, shortly after attending the inauguration ceremony of Iran's new president while at a special guest security residence in a complex affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards in northern Tehran. Iran attributed his death to Israel, but Israel has not taken responsibility for it. The army and the Prime Minister of Israel immediately took responsibility for the death of Foad Shukr, a senior military commander of Hezbollah, who was killed in a targeted operation by the Israeli Air Force in the southern suburbs of Beirut shortly before Haniyeh's death. Hassan Nasrallah emphasized the need for revenge and promised 'effective and decisive operations that are on the way.' Ali Khamenei stated on Wednesday that 'non-tactical withdrawal' in any field, including the military, brings about 'divine wrath.' However, it is unclear whether this statement indicates a retreat by his regime from revenge. In his remarks on Wednesday, the Supreme Leader did not refer to Haniyeh's death or the 'blood vengeance' he called for. Nevertheless, more than two weeks after the deaths of Haniyeh and Shukr, the assessment is that the reason for Iran and Hezbollah's delay in their planned attack on Israel may be the ongoing negotiations in Doha for a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza war, which began on August 25. This meeting continued on Friday, August 26, and despite deep disagreements between Israel and Hamas over various complex issues, Israeli officials have stated they are prepared for their delegation, headed by the head of Mossad, to stay longer in Doha. Hamas is not directly participating in the Doha negotiations, but Qatari and Egyptian mediators are informing Hamas members residing in Qatar of the results. Meanwhile, the Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a warning to its citizens on Thursday, stating that since the beginning of the ongoing war, 'Iran has been more than ever seeking to harm Israeli targets worldwide,' and that Iran and its proxy groups are planning to harm Israelis. The Israeli Foreign Ministry warned Israelis traveling to Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey to exercise maximum caution and adhere to the guidelines of the Israeli counter-terrorism headquarters.