Israel raises military alert as Trump weighs Iran escalation

The Israeli Defence Force is ramping up its readiness levels as the incoming Trump administration considers whether to significantly escalate military strikes against Iran, potentially targeting energy infrastructure and power plants. While Israel’s political leadership has remained characteristically tight-lipped, military commanders are already preparing contingency plans for multiple scenarios that could unfold in the coming weeks.

The uncertainty stems from Donald Trump’s continued deliberation over whether to authorise expanded operations against Iranian nuclear and energy facilities. Trump has been highly visible in recent days, visiting US military personnel at bases across America and maintaining a steady stream of inflammatory rhetoric directed at Tehran on social media. His unpredictable approach to foreign policy has left regional analysts scrambling to assess what action he might ultimately order.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials have begun signalling their own retaliatory targets, making clear they would not limit any response to strikes in the Persian Gulf region. Tehran’s rhetoric suggests a willingness to strike at Israel if provoked, escalating regional tensions to their highest point since the tit-for-tat exchanges earlier this year. The Iranian statements represent a significant expansion of their previously stated red lines and suggest a broader conflict could be imminent.

Israeli military planners are treating the situation with utmost seriousness, preparing defences and response protocols across multiple branches of the armed forces. The lack of clarity about American intentions has forced Israel to maintain heightened alert status, ensuring it can respond rapidly to any Iranian action. Regional observers note that any American strike on Iranian energy infrastructure would almost certainly trigger responses that could draw Israel directly into a wider conflict with Tehran.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.