JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the country is fully prepared for any potential conflict with Iran.
This heightened state of alert follows a recent airstrike in Damascus that reportedly targeted Iran’s consulate building, killing several high-ranking Iranian officials.
According to Israeli newspaper, Israel’s military is bracing for a possible Iranian retaliation for the Damascus attack. Gallant confirmed these preparations during a security assessment at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv.
The April 1st strike killed at least seven members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, including two generals. While Israel has not officially claimed responsibility, Iran has explicitly accused them and vowed a harsh response.
This escalation in tensions comes after a deadly Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas attack last October.
The human cost of this conflict has been immense, with reports of over 33,000 Palestinian casualties and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
The ongoing blockade on Gaza by Israel has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, pushing a large portion of the population towards starvation. The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned Israel’s actions and called for an end to the suffering in Gaza.
The International Court of Justice recently accused Israel of genocide and demanded measures to prevent a famine in Gaza.
