Israel on high alert for possibility of US intervention in Iran — report

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran, protesters once again take to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, January 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)
In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran, protesters once again take to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, January 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)

Israel is on high alert for the possibility of any US intervention in Iran as authorities there confront the biggest anti-government protests in years, three Israeli sources with knowledge of the matter tell Reuters.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene in recent days and warned Iran’s rulers against using force against demonstrators. Yesterday, Trump said the US stands “ready to help.”

The death toll in the protests has exceeded 100, activists have said.

The sources, who were present for Israeli security consultations over the weekend, did not elaborate on what Israel’s high-alert footing meant in practice. Israel and Iran fought a 12-day war in June, and the US struck Iran’s nuclear facilities in the war’s final days.

In a phone call yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the possibility of US intervention in Iran, according to an Israeli source who was present for the conversation. A US official confirmed the two men spoke but did not say what topics they discussed.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report. 

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