TEL AVIV, Israel. Israel’s military has announced its readiness to respond to any potential retaliatory attacks from Iran or Hezbollah, following the recent targeted killings of senior leaders from these Iranian-backed militant groups. The heightened state of alert comes amid growing concerns that Hezbollah could launch an attack soon.
The tension has escalated since the deaths of key figures, including Hezbollah’s top military commander Fu’ad Shukr, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut at the end of July, and Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran. Both Iran and Hezbollah have vowed to retaliate, raising the stakes in an already volatile region.
In response to these threats, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari emphasized the military’s preparedness. “We take our enemies’ threats seriously and we’ve been ready for a long period. We’re highly prepared both in the offense and defense, but above all, any threat toward the citizens of Israel we identify, we eliminate, and that’s how we’ll continue,” Hagari stated during a press briefing on Saturday.
When questioned by a reporter from Israel’s state-run Kan 11 television about situational assessments suggesting an imminent Hezbollah attack, Hagari refrained from confirming specific intelligence but reiterated Israel’s readiness. “We operate to eliminate threats and will continue to do so. With any change or development, we will immediately update the public. Our mission is to defend the citizens of Israel,” he said.
The potential for a major retaliatory attack has sparked concerns about the impact on ongoing ceasefire negotiations. U.S. officials have indicated that talks were at an advanced stage before the assassination of Haniyeh in Tehran, an act for which Iran has blamed Israel. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the killing.
The situation remains tense as Israel continues its military operations in Gaza. The war, which began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, has resulted in over 40,200 deaths in Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities. Meanwhile, Israel reports that 109 Israeli hostages are still being held in Gaza, with 36 of them believed to be dead. This week, the bodies of six Israeli hostages were recovered from tunnels in Gaza during an Israeli military operation in Khan Younis.
As Israel remains on high alert, the possibility of further escalation looms, with the nation’s defense forces poised to respond to any threat that emerges.
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.
