Israel believes the United States could launch an attack on Iran within the coming days, according to the Hebrew Broadcasting Authority. The report said Israeli estimates suggest Washington would give Tel Aviv a warning several hours before any action.
The broadcaster reported on Wednesday evening that Israeli officials expect the potential US operation to combine cyber-attacks with military action. It added that Israel’s security establishment has raised its alert level in preparation for possible developments.
The report also revealed that Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar is visiting Abu Dhabi and holding a secret meeting with his Emirati counterpart, Abdullah bin Zayed, without any official announcement.
At the same time, the municipalities of Beersheba and Gan Yavne announced the opening of public shelters, despite no official instruction from the Israeli army. They followed the city of Dimona, which took a similar step “as a precaution against surprises”.
These developments come amid growing US and Israeli pressure on Tehran since popular protests erupted in Iran in late December. Officials in Washington and Tel Aviv have made statements expressing hopes for a change in the Iranian regime.