Israeli Official to Voice of America: We Are Preparing for Various Scenarios Against the Islamic Republic and Its Proxies

An Israeli Defense Ministry official told Voice of America that Israel is "preparing for a range of different scenarios" against the Iranian government and its proxy groups. In an interview on Monday, the official emphasized the "close coordination of defense arrangements with the United States," stating that Yoav Gallant, Israel's Defense Minister, speaks several times a week with Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Defense Secretary, and that there is a significant level of "operational and strategic coordination at all levels." The Israeli official further expressed gratitude to the United States for its "deployment of significant amounts of equipment and forces in the region," highlighting the close cooperation between the two countries to ensure military interoperability. On Monday, John Kirby, the National Security Council's Strategic Communications Coordinator at the White House, also stated that the U.S. is prepared to counter potential "major attacks" from the Iranian government or its proxy groups in the Middle East. He noted that the United States, like Israel, is concerned about a potential attack from the Islamic Republic and has increased its military presence in the region in recent days. According to Kirby, the Islamic Republic may attack Israel within the week. This senior U.S. official added that Europeans need to decide on their role in the event of an Iranian attack on Israel. Earlier, Israel Katz, Israel's Foreign Minister, warned on Monday about the smuggling of Iranian weapons through Jordan to the West Bank. In a post on social media, he stated that the Iranian government's efforts to create "a new terrorist front in the east against major population centers in Israel" has led to a "serious and dangerous situation." According to Katz, units of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are collaborating with Hamas operatives in Lebanon to smuggle weapons and funds to Jordan with the aim of destabilizing that country's government. The senior Israeli diplomat added that these weapons are then smuggled through the Jordan border to "Judea and Samaria" (the West Bank), particularly to refugee camps. Katz stated that the goal of smuggling weapons and large amounts of money to the West Bank is to create a "pro-Iran terrorist front" similar to Gaza, Lebanon, and other areas to attack Tel Aviv and other major population centers in Israel. The Israeli Foreign Minister warned: "The Iranian axis of evil effectively controls the refugee camps in Judea and Samaria through its proxies and has rendered the Palestinian Authority incapable of action." He further stated that Israel must take control of "terrorist centers" such as the Jenin refugee camp and conduct a broad operational campaign to eliminate terrorist infrastructures in these camps. Katz added that such action aligns with the shared interests of Israel, many regional governments, and the entire free world to prevent the expansion of the "Iranian axis of evil." The Israeli Foreign Minister also called for accelerating the construction of an eastern wall along the border with Jordan to prevent the smuggling of weapons from that country to Israel, which he deemed a threat to the security of both countries. Some experts believe that one possible scenario in the event of direct war between the Iranian government and Hezbollah with Israel is the activation of dormant Hamas cells in the West Bank and Israel to attack Jews and increase casualties among Israelis. Katz's warning about the smuggling of weapons and money by the IRGC and Hamas to Jordan and then to the West Bank comes as, since the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31, the Jordanian Foreign Minister has warned the Islamic Republic at least three times that his country will not allow its airspace to be used for attacks on Israel. Jordan has repeatedly clashed with drug and weapon traffickers, especially along its borders with Syria, in recent years. These traffickers are said to be linked to Iran-backed militia groups in Syria, particularly Hezbollah. The continuation of flight cancellations to the Middle East; overseas holidays for Israeli Air Force personnel have been canceled. Israel is anticipating a large-scale attack from the Islamic Republic; the U.S. is changing its military posture in the region. The Israeli Defense Minister warned Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of an "unprecedented response" from his country. Israeli fighter jets attacked several Hezbollah buildings in southern Lebanon. Rocket fire and drone attacks by Hezbollah on northern Israel did not result in casualties. The U.S. is releasing a $3.5 billion budget for military equipment purchases by Israel. Ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts; several Biden administration officials are traveling to the Middle East.