In the midst of escalating tensions following last week’s assassination of Hamas’ political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Israeli preparedness to counter any potential Iranian retaliation has reached its peak.
Some Israeli assessments suggest that Hezbollah might launch its retaliatory attack for the assassination of one of its top leaders, Fouad Shukr, in the heart of Beirut’s southern suburbs last week, even before Iran, as reported by the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation today, Wednesday.
Precision Missiles from Hezbollah
The assessments also pointed out that the warning would be short, especially since Hezbollah’s proximity to Israel would make early preparation for any attack difficult.
Furthermore, it is likely that the Iran-backed Lebanese group would launch a large barrage of missiles, including precision-guided ones.
Israel Prepares for a Distributed Response
Israel is preparing for a response split between Hezbollah and Iran, which may require thousands of Israelis to spend several hours in shelters.
Delay in Response
Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah confirmed in a speech delivered yesterday, Tuesday, that the delay in the retaliatory response to the assassinations of Haniyeh and Shukr works in the group’s favor, keeping Israel in a state of exhausting alertness.
He explained that the group is deliberate in its response, without revealing the nature of the expected attack or whether it would coincide with the Iranian response.
Nasrallah also noted that the Israeli military had almost evacuated the Ramat David Air Force Base.
He threatened to target military bases, not only in the north but also in central Israel, as well as factories and workshops.
This comes as the United States, which previously sent F-22 fighters to the region to support its historical ally, continues its diplomatic and political efforts to de-escalate and urge Tehran not to expand its response in a way that could lead to a comprehensive war in the region.
