Israel on high alert for Iranian attack, but prepared for any scenario, says IDF spokesman

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari stresses that there is no change to instructions for civilians as Israel remains on high alert for a potential attack from Iran.

“I will address the reports and talk about the preparations for an attack from Iran. First of all, there is no change to the Home Front Command instructions,” Hagari says in an evening press conference.

“We are on alert and are highly prepared for various scenarios, and are constantly assessing the situation. We are ready for attack and defense using a variety of capabilities that the IDF has, and also ready with our strategic partners,” he says.

Hagari says the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Gen. Michael Kurilla, arrived in Israel this morning to hold an assessment with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on “the security challenges in the region.”

“Our strategic relationship with the US armed forces is strong and tight,” he says.

“An attack from Iranian territory would be clear proof of Iranian intentions to escalate the situation in the Middle East, and to stop hiding behind the proxies,” Hagari continues.

He says that in recent months, the IDF has “upgraded and improved” its attack capabilities, and “will know to operate wherever is needed.”

“We have a multi-layered [air] defense capability that has proven itself amid the war, with thousands of successful interceptions,” Hagari says. “But the defense is never going to be hermetic,” he says, adding that civilians should continue to follow the existing and unchanged Home Front Command guidelines, and remain vigilant.

“If there is a change, we will update [the public] immediately,” Hagari adds.

Asked whether the citizens of Israel should be braced tonight for an Iranian attack, and whether the IDF will hit back if Iran attacks Israel from its territory, Hagari says that “the State of Israel is attacked [by forces armed] with Iranian capabilities from Yemen, Iraq and Syria, almost every week, if not almost every day — and our defenses intercept those threats.”

“Nonetheless, we are braced and ready, on high alert, defensively and offensively. We’ll know to update the public and to deal with every threat,” he says.