Reserve Call-Up and Front Reinforcements: Israeli Plans to Expand the Confrontation with Iran
Israeli military assessments indicate that the current confrontation with Iran is unlikely to be short-lived, following a new exchange of attacks between the two sides.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli military has approved plans in anticipation of a broader Iranian strike and is preparing for several days of fighting.
The newspaper quoted military officials as saying that additional strikes are ready to be launched following the Iranian missile attacks, including the mobilization of reserve forces and the reinforcement of the Lebanese front.
The escalation began when Iran launched 11 missiles toward Israel late last night, followed by additional missile launches targeting central and southern parts of the country.
Israel responded swiftly on Monday by striking targets in western and central Iran, before senior military officials approved written plans to continue the attacks, according to the newspaper.
The Israeli military stated that the overnight strikes began with operations designed to eliminate aerial threats and open routes for warplanes heading toward Iranian airspace.
Targets reportedly included radar systems and air-defense components capable of hindering Israeli operations.
In this regard, Israeli officials stated that Iran’s air-defense capabilities had already been weakened during previous rounds of fighting, although remaining systems still need to be targeted.
Officials also noted that the military had remained on maximum alert since the conclusion of the previous operation and the ceasefire announcement last April, preparing for both offensive and defensive scenarios.
The Cost: Mahshahr
Regarding the Israeli strike on the Karoun Petrochemical Complex in Mahshahr, a coastal city in southwestern Iran, military officials told the newspaper that the attack was intended to “signal that any attempt by Tehran to impose new rules of engagement on Israel would come at a price.”
Israeli-American Coordination
According to the same sources cited by the newspaper, Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir held three conversations with the commander of the United States Central Command since the beginning of the campaign.
The newspaper added that Israeli officials described the current escalation as “part of the ongoing close cooperation with the United States,” stating that coordination continued throughout the night and into the morning. Washington has not confirmed these claims so far.
As for the Israeli strike carried out yesterday against Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, the same sources said that it was intended to emphasize that Israel “will not accept restrictions on its ability to act against threats.”
Israeli Reservists
At the same time, Israel is calling up several reserve battalions for deployment on other fronts.
Officials stated that the move is aimed at freeing Home Front Command units to respond to missile impact sites and reinforce border areas, including forces from the 96th Division, which continue their operations in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military stated that its forces there are currently working to dismantle a Hezbollah underground network discovered on Sunday, adding that soldiers are engaged in disabling what it describes as the group’s extensive infrastructure.
