JERUSALEM. Israel is currently on edge, anticipating potential retaliation from Iran or its allies following the recent strike on Iran’s embassy in Damascus, which resulted in the death of a senior officer.
With growing warnings of reprisals, countries like India, France, and Russia have advised their citizens against traveling to the region, already tense due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, now in its seventh month.
While the Israeli military stated it hasn’t issued new instructions to civilians, it remains on high alert and prepared for various scenarios. Reports suggest heightened security measures, with rumors of partial evacuations of Israeli diplomatic missions.
Israel’s largest newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, warned of impending retaliation, suggesting it could occur within days. The airstrike on April 1 that killed Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Zahedi, a senior commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, and others, has not been claimed by Israel. However, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has blamed Israel and vowed retaliation.
Raz Zimmt, a senior researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, believes Iran may seek revenge but is hesitant to engage in full-scale military conflict.
Despite signals from Iranian sources and U.S. diplomats indicating Iran’s desire to avoid escalation, the situation remains volatile. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant emphasized readiness to defend against any threat.
There are concerns that Iran might directly target Israel, given its perception of the embassy attack as an assault on its sovereignty. Israel has bolstered its defenses in anticipation, particularly along its northern border, where tensions with Hezbollah persist.
While the situation remains uncertain, Israel is taking precautionary measures, including recalling reservists and fortifying defenses, to mitigate potential threats.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
