Officials describe precautionary measures despite no change in national guidance
JERUSALEM: Several Israeli municipalities, including Ramat Gan, Eilat and Karmiel, opened public bomb shelters on Thursday after local assessments indicated an increased risk of possible missile attacks from Iran over the weekend.
Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen announced that all public shelters in the city had been opened as a precaution. He said the decision followed a municipal security assessment that found the risk of missile fire had risen, although he stressed that no new warning had been issued by Israel’s Home Front Command.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later stated that no directive had been issued to open public shelters and confirmed there had been no change to national civil defence guidelines.
Municipalities emphasise preparedness
Shama-Hacohen urged residents and residential building committees to ensure communal shelters were ready and accessible, saying the measure reflected caution rather than an immediate threat.
Similarly, Eilat’s municipality announced that it had opened all public shelters while instructing operators of dual-purpose shelters to remain prepared for immediate activation if required.
In northern Israel, Karmiel also opened its shelters, with Mayor Moshe Kuninski saying the municipality was maintaining close coordination with security and emergency authorities. He reassured residents that there was no reason for panic and described the move as a responsible preparatory step.
Health and security agencies remain on alert
The precautionary measures came as regional tensions continued to rise following recent US military operations targeting Iran and concerns that Tehran could respond with additional missile attacks.
Israeli officials have previously warned that an expanded regional conflict could increase the likelihood of retaliatory strikes against Israel. Ramat Gan was among the cities hit during earlier missile attacks, including a strike that damaged a residential building.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Health Ministry said the Supreme Hospitalization Authority had convened to review emergency preparedness and was maintaining continuous coordination with hospitals and healthcare providers to ensure readiness for any potential escalation.
Despite the municipal decisions, national authorities have not altered official civil defence instructions, and residents have been advised to continue following updates issued through official government channels.
